News

Voters could get power to recall Senedd members under new bill

Published

8 months ago

October 6, 2025

VOTERS in Wales could soon have the power to remove Senedd members between elections under a new draft accountability bill published by the Welsh Government.

Julie James, the Counsel General and Welsh Government’s chief legal adviser, announced the publication of the draft Member Accountability Bill in a written statement on Monday (Oct 6).

The proposals would allow voters to decide whether to “remove or retain” a sitting politician through a “recall poll”. If a member were removed, the seat would be filled by the next person on the party list — unless there were no more candidates, or the recalled member was an independent.

Under the draft bill, a recall poll could be triggered in two situations:

Conviction: If a politician is convicted of an offence and sentenced to imprisonment, including a suspended sentence.
Misconduct: If the Senedd votes to hold a poll following a standards committee recommendation after a finding of serious misconduct.

Before a recall for misconduct can take place, the standards committee must first publish “recall guidance” setting out the process in more detail.

To succeed, a simple majority of those voting in the recall poll must vote to remove the member. There would be no minimum turnout requirement.

Stronger standards rules

The draft bill, published following similar reforms in Westminster and Scotland, would not automatically come into effect. Welsh ministers would later set the start date for the new powers.

It also proposes strengthening the Senedd’s standards of conduct system. The standards committee — made up of politicians — would become a permanent, legal requirement for every Senedd, and for the first time, independent “lay members” could sit on the committee.

Douglas Bain, the Senedd’s standards commissioner, would also be given new “own-initiative” powers to launch investigations without waiting for complaints.

In addition, the bill would place a legal duty on Welsh ministers to prohibit false statements during election campaigns, aiming to curb deliberate political deception.

Ms James said the draft legislation was still open to amendment before its formal introduction to the Senedd later this autumn.

Crime

Portfield Gate man faces careless driving allegation after Tufton crash

Published

37 minutes ago

June 18, 2026

Court Reporter

A PORTFIELD GATE man has appeared before magistrates accused of failing to stop after a road accident on the B4329.

Tony Mallon, 32, of Chestnut Tree Cottage, Portfield Gate, Haverfordwest, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Jun 17).

He is charged with driving a Peugeot Partner without due care and attention on the B4329 Preselly Mountain Road at Tufton on November 12, 2025.

Mallon is also accused of failing to stop after an accident in which damage was allegedly caused to a Toyota Auris, and failing to report the accident to police within 24 hours.

The case was adjourned at the request of the defence for an intermediary report to be prepared.

Mallon is due to appear again at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on July 8 for a further pre-trial review.

News

New left-wing political party forms first Welsh branch in Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire

Published

42 minutes ago

June 18, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Founding conference to be held at Aberystwyth University with Jeremy Corbyn expected to speak

A NEW political party has formed its first Welsh branch covering Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.

The Ceredigion Penfro branch of Your Party Cymru held its inaugural meeting on Sunday, June 7, with members attending in person in Aberystwyth and online from across both counties.

The group says it is the first Your Party Cymru branch to be formally constituted in Wales and will now receive party funding to develop locally and begin campaigning.

Your Party Cymru says it aims to address inequality and injustice, with the new branch planning to stand candidates in elections, launch local campaigns, and support existing causes.

The branch said its priorities would include industrial action, housing campaigns, protecting local health services, environmental issues, Palestine solidarity, and opposing the far right.

Organisers say the party will operate as a member-led movement, giving local members a say in how branches are run and offering opportunities to become active in campaigns.

Dinah Mulholland, Your Party Ceredigion Penfro organiser, said: “We are offering a significant alternative to political parties in the Senedd and in Westminster, who have disregarded the needs of ordinary people for far too long.

“Your Party Cymru will be a new kind of political party. We are rooted in communities, trade unions and social movements, and we are building positive and sustainable change from the ground up.”

Maria Donnellan, Your Party Cymru representative for Your Party UK’s collective leadership, said the formation of the branch was a “historic day” for the party and for Welsh politics.

She said: “Ceredigion Penfro communities have always found ways to look after each other when the state has failed to. It is exactly the right place for Your Party Cymru to take its first steps as a member-led party built from communities, not from the top down.”

The Ceredigion Penfro branch will host the Your Party Cymru founding conference at Aberystwyth University on Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19.

Jeremy Corbyn and other socialist figures are expected to speak at the event.

Business

Wales unemployment close to UK rate as ministers promise productivity push

Published

1 hour ago

June 18, 2026

Tom Sinclair

WALES’ unemployment rate is broadly in line with the UK average, according to the latest labour market figures.

The Welsh Government said figures from the Annual Population Survey showed unemployment among people aged 16 and over in Wales at 4.5%, compared with 4.4% across the UK.

Ministers said Wales’ employment rate was also “relatively close” to its all-time high, but acknowledged that official labour market data should be treated with caution because of continuing concerns over reliability.

The figures come as the newly elected Welsh Government seeks to put productivity at the centre of its economic agenda.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “As a newly elected Government we are committed to driving investment, innovation and higher productivity across Wales.

“We have announced a National Productivity Goal to close the gap with the rest of the UK and help unlock the full potential of the Welsh economy.

“By focusing on productivity, we will deliver more jobs, higher pay, stronger businesses and thriving communities.”

The Government says the new goal will help shape the work of its planned Welsh innovation and development agency, including how it supports businesses, develops skills and invests in the wider economy.

However, ministers also said Wales’ labour market appears to be following similar trends to the UK as a whole.

They pointed to ongoing work by the Office for National Statistics to improve the quality of Labour Force Survey data, saying the figures should be read alongside other labour market indicators to get a clearer picture.

The Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy, Adam Price, is seeking a meeting with the ONS to discuss the reliability of labour market data for Wales.