Plans for better gender equality in the Senedd have hit a roadblock as the Welsh Government has decided to scrap a crucial pledge aimed at increasing diversity in politics. Initially, a headline commitment was made to ensure that political parties would need to nominate an equal number of male and female candidates for election, as part of proposed changes to the Senedd. These changes included expanding the number of Senedd members from 60 to 96 by 2026, along with modifications to the voting system.
However, amid debates over the legal authority of Wales to enforce such gender quotas, the two aspects of the legislation were separated. The bill concerning the increase in the number of Senedd members and alterations to voting procedures has already been approved and is scheduled to take effect in 2026. Conversely, the bill regarding gender quotas was moving forward independently, with previous administrations aiming to implement it by 2030.
Presiding Officer Elin Jones raised doubts about the Senedd’s jurisdiction to implement the new law, leading to disagreements within the Welsh Government. Concerns were also raised about potential legal challenges if the legislation was pursued. Subsequently, under Eluned Morgan’s administration, the decision was made to abandon the gender quotas bill.
Trefnydd Jane Hutt explained the government’s decision, stating that a review had been conducted over the summer, leading to the conclusion that alternative approaches were needed to achieve practical changes for the 2026 Senedd election. While the withdrawal of the bill removes the government’s mandatory gender parity requirements, it does not prevent parties from implementing their own initiatives for gender balance.
Despite the shelving of the gender quotas, Plaid Cymru has confirmed its commitment to nominating an evenly balanced mix of male and female candidates for the upcoming 2026 election. Welsh Conservative Darren Millar MS described the scrapped plan as divisive, asserting that his party would continue to select candidates based on merit and voter preference.
In related news, the Welsh Government has announced that plans to incorporate international human rights treaties into Welsh law by 2026, as outlined in Labour’s 2021 Senedd manifesto, will not be carried forward as initially promised. The decision has led to disappointment among advocates for advancing equality and human rights in Wales. Professor Simon Hoffman, who specialises in human rights law at Swansea University, highlighted the complexities involved in preparing related legislation within the current Senedd term.
Professor Hoffman’s research, which included 40 recommendations such as establishing a Welsh human rights bill, indicated that the necessary groundwork would not be completed in time for the legislation to be introduced before the 2026 election. Consequently, the focus may shift towards initiating discussions through a green paper and outlining a future timeline for potential legislative actions.