Welsh Government publishes plans for expanded, "more representative" Senedd

The Welsh Senedd will increase in size by 60% under plans put forward by the Welsh Government as part of its cooperation agreement with Plaid Cymru.

It said the increase from 60 to 96 members would “create a modern Senedd, better able to represent people in Wales, with increased capacity to scrutinise, make laws, and hold the government to account”.

Under the proposals, 96 members would be elected using closed proportional lists, with six members for each of 16 constituencies and taking effect for the 2026 Senedd election.

There would also be an increase in the maximum number of Welsh ministers from 12 to 17, plus the First Minister and the Counsel General.

The Bill also proposed a full boundary review should take effect at the 2030 Senedd election, with reviews every eight years thereafter.

A separate Bill to introduce gender quotas for candidates for Senedd elections will be brought forward later in the year.

Counsel General Mick Antoniw said: “We are creating a more effective Senedd, with a greater ability and capacity to hold the Welsh Government to account.

“This Bill will help ensure the Senedd also reflects the huge changes to Wales’ devolution settlement since 1999, including law-making and tax-raising powers.”

Antoniw said Wales was under-represented as the Senedd had the fewest members of any devolved UK Parliament and there had been a reduction in Wales’ share of UK parliamentary seats.

But Darren Millar, leaders of the opposition Welsh Conservatives, said: “It’s disappointing that Welsh Labour ministers continue to press ahead with plans to increase the size of the Senedd at a cost of tens of millions each year while threatening to cut budgets for schools and hospitals. Wales need more doctors, dentists, nurses and teachers, not more politicians.”

Mark Smulian