Plans for a gender-balanced Senedd have been scrapped by the Welsh Government, causing a shift in the proposed reforms. Initially, the plan included a requirement for political parties to have a minimum of 50% female candidates, set to be implemented for the 2030 Senedd election. The Welsh Government has decided to discontinue this gender quota aspect of the reform. However, other changes such as a new voting system and increasing the number of members from 60 to 96 will still proceed.
According to reports by BBC News Wales, Welsh ministers have affirmed their commitment to achieving a gender-balanced Parliament and increasing the representation of women in politics. Social justice secretary Jane Hutt MS stated that the government’s focus will now be on delivering concrete outcomes for the people of Wales. The decision to withdraw the gender quota bill was prompted by concerns raised by presiding officer Elin Jones MS, who questioned the Senedd’s authority to pass such legislation.
Despite the withdrawal of the gender quota bill, the Welsh Government has indicated that it will expedite new guidance for political parties on promoting diversity and inclusion. This development comes after previous postponements and debates regarding the government’s power to enforce gender quotas in elections. The Senedd is scheduled to discuss and vote on the motion to withdraw the bill on September 24.
In response to the decision, Welsh Conservative shadow minister for the constitution Darren Millar MS expressed his belief that legal challenges would have arisen had the gender quotas been enforced. On the other hand, Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd for the Arfon constituency, Siân Gwenllian, expressed disappointment over the government’s decision to abandon the gender quotas, citing it as a setback for women’s equality in Wales.
The Welsh Government’s decision to scrap the gender quota bill has sparked varied reactions among political figures and stakeholders. While some commend the move as a step towards a more merit-based candidate selection process, others view it as a missed opportunity to advance women’s representation in Welsh politics. The future implications of this decision remain to be seen as the Senedd navigates the complexities of electoral reform and gender equality initiatives.