Last week, the Senedd (Members & Elections) Bill was tabled.
It comes after the best part of 20 years of consultations, commissions, backroom talks and committees to get to a point where the Senedd will finally be considered to be (so-called) “fit for purpose”.
I don’t cover the Senedd that often anymore (if ever), but this is a “constitutional” matter with a broader impact on democracy. It’s also a far more significant electoral reform than those passed in the previous term.
As for my own opinions, the whole thing is yet another wasted opportunity – but there are some positives. A few tweaks as the Bill goes through the law-making process would take it something closer to acceptable, even good.
The return of four-year Senedd terms
Five years is too long; the Fifth Senedd was torturous. Meanwhile, three-year terms (as in New Zealand and Australia) would probably be too short.
Four-year terms are the right balance. It’s long enough for a proper programme of government and law-making to be put together and implemented. It’s not so long that pre-election tension builds and causes problems, with governments and elected members far outstaying their welcome (which is happening now at the UK level).
A Welsh residency requirement for Senedd candidates and members
This should’ve been there from the start. It brings the requirements to stand as a candidate in line with those required to vote. So if you’re registered to vote at an address in Wales you’ll be able to stand for the Senedd.
Job-sharing to be kept under review
While this isn’t going to be included in the Bill itself, it’s good that it hasn’t been abandoned completely.
Support for job-sharing has often come from the angle of allowing parents of young children to balance home and work responsibilities (and would allow things like a temporary/locum MS to take over during maternity, paternity or sick leave).
It would be far more important to allow people with limiting disabilities (massively under-represented in Welsh public life compared to their share of the population) to stand.
Many issues need ironing out before job-sharing can be proposed in a law. Though not addressing things at the point of need – leaving it to cross-party committees, task and finish groups, commissions etc. – is how we do things in Wales.
