Senedd Cymru (Member Accountability and Elections) Bill

Senedd Cymru (Member Accountability and Elections) Bill

A Welsh Government Bill, introduced by Julie James MS, Counsel General and Minister for Delivery. The Business Committee has remitted the Bill to the Member Accountability Bill Committee.

 

About the Bill

The Bill includes provision for:

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>>>Enhancing the accountability of Members of the Senedd to the electorate, providing a mechanism to recall an elected Member, removing them from office during their term on the basis of the expressed will of voters in the relevant constituency.

>>>Strengthening the Senedd’s standards process as considered by the Standards of Conduct Committee, including:

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***Establishing a mandatory 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.

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>>>Placing a duty upon the Welsh Ministers to make provision prohibiting the making or publishing of false statements of fact. This is in response to the recommendations of the Standards of Conduct Committee's report into deliberate deception.

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Further detail about the Bill can be found in its accompanying Explanatory Memorandum.

 

Current Stage

BillStage1

The Bill is currently at Stage 1. An explanation of the various stages of Senedd Bills is available in the Guide to the Stages of Public Bills and Acts.

 

Record of Passage in the Welsh Parliament

The following table sets out the dates for each stage of the Bill’s passage through the Senedd.

 

¬¬¬Stage 1 (Current)

The Member Accountability Bill Committee considered its approach to Stage 1 scrutiny on 21 October 2025.

 

Committee dates

The Member Accountability Bill Committee will consider the Bill on the following dates:

 

Date and Agenda

Purpose of meeting

Transcript

Senedd.TV

11 November 2025

Evidence session with the Chair of the Standards of Conduct Committee (Public)

 

Evidence session with the Commissioner for Standards (Public)

To follow

To follow

4 November 2025

Confirmation of Approach to Stage 1 Scrutiny (Public)

 

Forward work planning (Private)

To follow

View meeting

21 October 2025

Committee remit (public)

 

Consideration of Approach to Stage 1 Scrutiny (Private)

 

Technical briefing (Private)

Transcript

View meeting

 

The Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee will consider the Bill on the following dates:

 

Date and Agenda

Purpose of meeting

Transcript

Senedd.TV

17 November 2025

Evidence session with the Counsel General and Minister for Delivery

To follow

To follow

 

The Finance Committee will consider the Bill on the following dates:

 

Date and Agenda

Purpose of meeting

Transcript

Senedd.TV

20 November 2025

Evidence session with the Counsel General and Minister for Delivery

To follow

To follow

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¬¬¬Bill introduced (3 November 2025)

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>>>Senedd Cymru (Member Accountability and Elections) Bill, as introduced (PDF 1.3MB)

>>>Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 1.3MB)

>>>Presiding Officer’s Statement - 3 November 2025 (PDF 177KB)

>>>Business Committee’s Report on the timetable for consideration of the Bill – 4 November 2025 (PDF 75KB).

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Contact information:

 

Clerk: Sarah Sargent

Phone: 0300 200 6565

 

Postal address:

 

Welsh Parliament
Cardiff Bay
Cardiff
CF99 1SN

 

E-mail: SeneddMAB@senedd.wales

Type: For information

First published: 03/11/2025

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