This article summarises the much talked about changes to the next Senedd itself as well as the election process before it. While we outline a summary of the changes below, a question often asked is where did these changes come from?
In short, the idea of a full Welsh parliament of up to 100 elected members goes back as far as the Wilson governments in the 1970s. Since the then-Welsh Assembly’s inception in 1999 there has been an ongoing shift towards this original inception with numerous committees and commitments made across the political spectrum. From the 2011 referendum to four national consultations in just the last five years, the idea of needing to reform the Senedd and wider political system reached its climax when in May 2024 MSs voted 43-16 in favour of the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill, making the changes we now see into law.
All change on polling day
Despite this long history to get here, voters in Wales will now begin see this change all come to fruition on one single polling day. Even from a short summary, it’s clear this election may be unlike any other in the last quarter century of devolution, one that perhaps may not be fully understood until May 7.
Key dates
Senedd dissolved: 8 April
Election Day: 7 May
Deadline for new First Minister: 3 June