Politics

Supreme Court looms as gender quotas bill progresses

Published

2 years ago

July 17, 2024

PLANS to introduce gender quotas in Senedd elections moved a step closer amid concerns the bill is “highly likely” to be challenged in the Supreme Court.

Senedd members agreed the general principles of the gender quotas bill, which would require at least half of a political party’s candidates to be women.

Jane Hutt reiterated her position Wales has the necessary powers to pass the bill but confirmed implementation would be delayed until the 2030 election.

She said the plans were pushed back due to concerns about the potential impact of legal challenges on the conduct and outcome of the 2026 election.

Ms Hutt, who is in charge of the bill, said the landmark legislation would make the Senedd more effective as well as more reflective of the people it serves.

Adam Price, who represents Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, urged the Welsh Government to work with Labour colleagues in Westminster to grant Wales the required powers.

The former Plaid Cymru leader said an order – under section 109 of the 2006 Government of Wales Act – could bring the bill within the Welsh Parliament’s scope.

Mr Price argued a section 109 order would take the reasons the Welsh Government has given for delaying implementation to 2030 off the table completely.

He asked: “Why couldn’t we apply for that order in council today, from a Labour government at Westminster, so that we can have a gender-balanced parliament in 2026?”

Ms Hutt replied that a section 109 order would not put the question of whether the Senedd has powers beyond doubt, nor remove the risk of referral to the Supreme Court.

David Rees, who chaired the Senedd reform committee tasked with scrutinising the bill, raised witnesses’ concerns that gender quotas could be susceptible to abuse.

He reiterated calls for any false statement on nomination forms to be an electoral offence, a committee recommendation that was rejected by the Welsh Government.

The Labour backbencher said the committee heard conflicting views on whether the Senedd has the necessary powers but most evidence from legal advisers suggested it does not.

In a letter to MSs when the bill was introduced in March, Elin Jones explained her position that the bill relates to a reserved matter and is not within the Senedd’s powers.

The Senedd’s speaker or Llywydd said her view was based on legal tests and advice as she stressed that the question can only be definitely answered by the Supreme Court.

Mike Hedges, chair of the Senedd legislation committee, warned the bill could give the Welsh Government a “blank cheque” to legislate on some electoral matters.

Outlining his committee’s recommendations, he raised concern about the balance between the details in the bill itself and those that will be left to subordinate legislation.

Mr Hedges, a Labour backbencher who represents Swansea East, was disappointed by a decision to curtail scrutiny of the bill – only for the “stage-one” debate to be delayed.

Peredur Owen Griffiths, who chairs the finance committee, raised concerns about the unquantified cost of the bill being referred to the Supreme Court.

The Plaid Cymru politician pointed out that this is the first time the Llywydd has issued a statement that a bill would not be within powers.

Darren Millar, for the Conservatives, opposed the bill and the principle of gender quotas, arguing the proposed system is neither proportionate nor appropriate.

He said the reform committee heard the bill is highly likely to be challenged in the courts.

The Tory told the Senedd the bill bears little resemblance to the initial plan for gender-zipped lists which was “hatched” in a Labour-Plaid Cymru agreement.

He said the system would allow political parties to put forward lists of candidates that could be 100% female but only a maximum of up to 50% male.

Mr Millar, who represents Clwyd West, warned the bill pits one aspect of diversity, gender, against others “which are completely ignored” such as disability, age, faith and race.

Heledd Fychan, for Plaid Cymru, told the chamber gender equality is vital for a healthy and functioning democracy, expressing disappointment at the delay.

Picking up on comments from Mr Millar about people being elected on merit, the South Wales Central representative said: “We are not in an equal society; there are so many barriers that stop women from being able to be appointed to a myriad of different roles.”

Ms Fychan said the problem is not unique to Wales, with only six countries having a 50% or higher proportion of women in their parliaments.

“At the current rate … gender parity won’t be achieved globally until 2063 at the earliest,” she said, adding that female politicians face terrifying levels of hate, sexism and harassment.

Ms Fychan called on the Welsh Government to unequivocally demand the relevant powers.

Carolyn Thomas, a Labour backbencher who represents North Wales, said she once believed in meritocracy but she has experienced unconscious bias “time and time again”.

Rhys ab Owen, an ex-barrister who sits as an independent, raised concerns about “weak” wording, such as the use of “may” rather than “must” in section 71 of the bill.

Ms Hutt, who is chief whip and Trefnydd, the Welsh Government’s business manager, said ministers are considering the section 109 route but she stressed it is not straightforward.

Following the July 16 debate, MSs voted 39-14 in favour of the general principles of the bill, which now moves to the first amending phase in the Senedd’s four-stage legislative process.

If passed, the counsel general or attorney general – the Welsh and UK Government’s chief legal advisers, respectively – have four weeks to refer the bill to the Supreme Court.

Climate

Pembrokeshire council to hear anti-net zero petition

Published

9 hours ago

May 10, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A PETITION call to Pembrokeshire councillors, which raises concerns at the “hefty funds” needed to support its commitment to net zero, will be heard at full council next week.

Last July, councillors agreed to set up a group to review its own decision to declare a climate emergency some seven years ago.

In May 2019, the council declared a climate emergency following a notice of motion by Cllr Joshua Beynon calling on the authority to back the global consensus that climate change poses a risk to the well-being of future generations.

He had urged county councillors to back a motion to take “bold, decisive action” to fight “truly, catastrophic” climate change, with the council to committing to becoming a zero-carbon local authority by 2030.

At the July 2025 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, a successful notice of motion by the late Cllr Mike Stoddart called for the establishment of a working group to review that decision.

That led to a recent petition, by Lynda Duffill of West Wales Climate Coalition, which attracted 725 signatures, calling on the council to reaffirm its Declaration of a Climate Emergency, and retain the ambition to deliver Net Zero Council operations by 2030.

That petition was considered at the October 2025 meeting of full council; members agreeing the working group be asked to ensure the petition is included as evidence in its consideration of the matters referred to it by the council resolution in July 2025.

That has now led to a further petition, concerned at a potential increase in council tax from a re-affirmation of a Declaration of a Climate Emergency.

The latest e-petition, on the council’s own website, created by Carolyn Ellis, read: “We call upon all elected members of Pembrokeshire County Council to support and to take seriously the working group tasked with the review of the ‘climate emergency’ called in 2019 (by the-then 21-year-old councillor Joshua Beynon) and to question the hefty funds needed to spend on ‘net zero’.

“We refer to the recent petition by the West Wales Climate Coalition which purports to speak for the residents and council tax-payers of Pembrokeshire.

“There is potentially a far higher number of residents who do not share this unsubstantiated view and who are extremely concerned about the potential for huge hikes in council tax, especially if this tax is linked in future to the carbon efficiency of homes and businesses.

“This was hinted at as a possible lever for encouraging ‘compliance’ with decarbonising homes in the ‘Better Homes, Better Wales, Better World’ report. Therefore, not only could we be faced with more taxes, but also inevitable deterioration in service provision by PCC.”

The current petition ran to March 26 and attracted 753 signatures; any petition of over 500 triggers a debate at full council, the petition due to be heard at the May 14 meeting.

Local Government

Eluned Morgan resigns after losing Ceredigion Penfro Senedd seat

Published

9 hours ago

May 10, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

WELSH First Minister Eluned Morgan has resigned as leader of the Labour Party after she lost her seat in a catastrophic Senedd election for the former ruling party.

Baroness Morgan was defeated in the Ceredigion Penfro constituency with Labour failing to pick up any of the six seats available in the new ward.

Plaid Cymru gained three, Reform two, and the Welsh Conservatives one as Labour trailed in fourth place in the seat.

Baroness Morgan had previously said she was at risk of losing her seat in this election, and Labour sources were reported showing a sense of unease as counting took place.

She has now stood down as First Minister and Welsh Labour leader.

The First Minister was one of 44 candidates for the Ceredigion Penfro, seven of them Labour, with a total of six seats up for grabs.

Plaid Cymru and Reform have topped opinion polls throughout this election campaign, but polls have indicated one single party may not be able to gain enough votes in the now 96 seat Senedd to govern.

During the count, unconfirmed rumours said Eluned Morgan was in danger of losing her seat.

Baroness Morgan first became an MS in 2016, becoming the sixth First Minister, and the first woman to hold the post, in 2024.

During the 2026 campaign trail, on the issue of a potential coalition or working closer with another party like Plaid Cymru, she said: “I’m not making promises on anything until after the election, what I will say is we won’t under any circumstances work with Reform, it’s important our values are clear and we wouldn’t work with them.”

The First Minister entered the count at held at Llandysul’s Ysgol Bro Teifi to a media scrum, the results for the party seeing it only slightly ahead of the Green party.

Out of 89,402 votes cast, Plaid Cymru gained 31,943; Reform 23,003; Welsh Conservatives 14,789; Labour 6,495; Green 6,324; Liberal Democrats 4,613; Gwlad 802; Heritage Party 442; Aaron Carey 368; George Alexander Chadzy 286, and Paul Haywood Dowson 88.

The six candidates elected were: Elin Jones Plaid Cymru, Susan Claire Archibald Reform, Kerry Ferguson Plaid Cymru, Welsh Conservatives Paul Windsor Davies, Paul Marr Reform, and Anna Nicholl Plaid.

Community

Fishguard astroturf ‘long overdue’ for new surface

Published

9 hours ago

May 10, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A CALL for clarity on if and when “long overdue” works on Fishguard Leisure Centre’s astroturf surface will take place is to be heard by councillors.

In a submitted question to be heard at the May 14 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, Bro Gwaun county councillor Delme Harries will ask: “I have received representations regarding the condition of the astroturf surface at Fishguard Leisure Centre which is reported to be a heavily-used facility supporting a range of local sports clubs and community activity.

“Concerns have been raised that the surface is now approaching 20 years old, and that resurfacing is now considered long overdue.

“In light of the council’s recent reviews and investments at other leisure centres in the south of the county, which are much welcomed, can the Cabinet Member please clarify: What formal assessments have been carried out on the condition and remaining lifespan of the astroturf at Fishguard Leisure Centre?

“How this facility is currently prioritised within the council’s wider leisure and sports investment programme?

“What consideration has been given to future upgrade or replacement at Fishguard, particularly in comparison with leisure facility investments made elsewhere in Pembrokeshire?”

Cllr Harries’ question is expected to be answered by the appropriate Cabinet member.

At the March meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet, members backed a leisure investment programme including feasibility funding for new leisure centres in Pembroke and Milford Haven, along with works at Tenby leisure centre, with the aim of extending the lifespan of the trust-run swimming pool by at least 10 years.

For Pembroke this includes a detailed feasibility study for a new-build Leisure Centre in Pembroke, on the current school site, providing a feasibility budget of £195,000 from reserves.

For Milford Haven, members backed £1.2m (at risk) in the capital programme to develop a high-level leisure brief into the tender of the new English Medium primary and secondary school project in Milford Haven, and the pre-construction services to develop the project designs (to RIBA 4, Detailed Design) for a new leisure centre at the same time as the school.

For Tenby, members backed a grant of £4,606,667 to the Tenby and District Swimming Pool Association, as owner of the asset, for works to extend the lifespan of the current swimming pool by at least 10 years.

Members also backed other recommendations including £50,000 from reserves to procure external funding consultants to identify and secure as much funding as possible towards the delivery of the investment programme, and to establish a leisure operations review board to undertake a formal review of the leisure services operating model.