MAB06 Un Llais Cymru/One Voice Wales

Pwyllgor y Bil Atebolrwydd Aelodau | Member Accountability Bill Committee

Bil Senedd Cymru (Atebolrwydd Aelodau ac Etholiadau) | Senedd Cymru (Member Accountability and Elections) Bill

Dear Members

Re Senedd Cymru (Member Accountability and Elections Bill)

One Voice Wales (OVW) welcomes the opportunity to present views on the general principles of the Bill, noting the very short time scale given to stakeholders to submit a response. We understand  that this is due to the fact that the Member Accountability Bill Committee must complete its evidence gathering and publish its report by 23 December 2025.

The Bill represents a significant step towards enhancing democracy in Wales. It provides an opportunity to create a more transparent and inclusive political environment by focusing on accountability, electoral reform, and representation. However, stakeholder engagement and careful consideration of implementation challenges will be crucial for its success.

OVW supports the three key changes included in the Bill, in order to improve the standards regime, namely:

·         the introduction of a recall system for Members of the Senedd in order to enhance the accountability of Members of the Senedd;

·         reforms to the Senedd’s standards procedures including the establishment of a Standards of Conduct Committee; introducing an element of independence and expertise for that committee through the appointment of lay members; and providing more flexibility to the Commissioner for Standards to proactively consider concerns regarding the conduct of Members of the Senedd;

·         powers for a future government to address false or misleading statements made during election campaigns.  We note that this is in response to the recommendations of the Standards of Conduct Committee’s report into deliberate deception.

OVW sees the following as positive outcomes of the Bill:

·         Improved transparency and trust in the government, the democratic process and elected members; the Bill is clearly aimed at increasing trust in the Senedd. By giving voters power to recall under defined conditions, it signals that MSs are not unaccountable.

·         Higher voter turnout due to more engaging electoral practice.

·         Greater representation and inclusivity.

However, the Bill may face several barriers that could hinder its effectiveness and successful adoption. These include:

·         The Bill’s compliance with existing laws, political resistance, public awareness and engagement and ensuring that changes do not complicate the electoral process unnecessarily. There are also resource implications – progress could be impeded if there is insufficient funding to implement the proposed reforms, including public awareness campaigns and new systems. Overcoming these challenges is crucial to ensure that the bill achieves its intended goals of enhancing accountability, representation, and public participation in the electoral process. These can be addressed through effective communication, stakeholder engagement, adequate resourcing, and careful planning. Information needs to be presented to the public in a clear and easy to understand manner.

·         Running recall polls could be administratively complex, especially given the new constituencies in 2026 with the list system and how to handle vacancies. For recall to be meaningful, voters need to know when and how to trigger it. That requires public awareness. But in a new system (post-2026), voters may still be adjusting to how Senedd representation works; a recall mechanism might be complicated to communicate.

·         While the role of independent lay-members on the Standards Committee strengthens objectivity, there could be a tension between promoting high standards and protecting free political speech. The inclusion of false-statement prohibitions and a stronger Standards regime raise the cost for serious misconduct, potentially deterring bad behaviour. But, how will  sanctions for false statements be regulated?