How Wales’s Senedd came from ‘local authority-like’ to ‘fully-fledged parliament’ in 25 years
It’s 25 years since voters in Wales first elected members to the Welsh parliament.
Devolution expert Professor Laura McAllister told Sky News that a lot had changed in the quarter of a century since the Senedd‘s first election.
A referendum was held in 1997 to create the previously named Welsh Assembly, with 50.3% of voters backing its creation.
The inaugural election took place two years later on 6 May 1999.
Prof McAllister, from Cardiff University’s Welsh governance centre, said it had been a “rollercoaster ride” for Welsh devolution over the last quarter of a century – as plans look set to be approved to increase the number of members from 60 to 96.
Professor Laura McAllister
The initial set-up was “very much like a local authority”, Prof McAllister said, but it had now become a “fully-fledged parliament with fiscal and financial powers”.
“I think Welsh devolution has changed more than any other devolved model of governance in the UK because it came from such a low base,” she added.
“At the very least the expansion of the Senedd to 96 [members] will make it fit for purpose.
“What the Senedd itself does, and the parties do with that, is the issue for debate. And they really need to take this seriously.”
‘Turnout remains low’
A further referendum was held in 2011, with 63.5% of voters supporting more powers for the Senedd.
But despite the changes in the last 25 years, challenges remain in terms of voter engagement.
“Turnout still remains low for Senedd elections, despite having had a quarter of a century of seeing what a Welsh government can or cannot do,” Professor McAllister added.
“We still have the same political party in power, and indeed Welsh Labour has been in power throughout the history of devolution, albeit sharing power at different times with different parties.”
The latest polling from Redfield and Wilton shows 55% of people in Wales support the Welsh parliament, while 32% think Wales shouldn’t have its own. 12% said they didn’t know.
The same polling shows 30% of Welsh voters would back independence for Wales, while 58% would oppose such a move.
Welsh Street
Sky News sought the views of people on Welsh Street in the town of Chepstow, Monmouthshire.
Garry Davies said people in the area “don’t really know what goes on in the Senedd” and felt “left out”.
Duncan Farron said he was “not a fan” of devolution.
“I just think it’s another tier of government that we don’t need really,” he added.
But Leila Phillips, who works in education, said there were “advantages” to having policy areas devolved to Wales.
“There are advantages because Wales has gone through the new curriculum, which is really fantastic actually, and England is still lagging behind that. So there are advantages as well,” she said.
Read more from Sky News:
Calls for investigation into £200k Gething donation
Speed limit on some Welsh roads could return to 30mph
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
Prof McAllister points out that most people in Wales support the institution, even if they don’t agree with the decisions taken by the government of the day in Cardiff.
“The common ground is in the middle where people support devolution, they might not support what Welsh government does,” she said.
“[But] if people don’t support a Conservative government in Westminster, they don’t call for the abolition of the House of Lords and the House of Commons.”
UK drivers are “confused” by the country’s electric car transition, ministers are being warned.
Although most drivers are not hostile towards electric vehicles (EVs), many are confused about what changes are coming and when, according to new research from the AA.
In a survey of more than 14,000 AA members, 7% thought the government was banning the sale of used petrol and diesel cars.
Around a third thought manual EVs exist, despite them all being automatic.
More than one in five said they would never buy an EV.
The government’s plan for increasing the number of electric vehicles being driven in the UK focuses heavily on increasing the supply of the vehicles.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
What you can do to reach net zero
In 2024, at least 22% of new cars and 10% of new vans sold by each manufacturer in the UK had to be zero-emission, which generally means pure electric.
Each year, those percentages will rise, reaching 80% of new cars and 70% of new vans in 2030.
Manufacturers will face fines of £15,000 per vehicle if electric vehicle sales fall short of 28% of total production this year.
Read more from Sky News:
Survivor reflects on five years on from COVID
At least 12 people injured in shooting in Toronto
By 2035, all new cars and vans will be required to be fully zero emission, according to the Department for Transport.
Second-hand diesel and petrol cars will still be allowed to be sold after this date, and their fuel will still be available.
There are more EVs – but will people buy them?
In February, 25% of new cars were powered purely by battery and in January, they made up 21% of all new cars registered in the UK.
But despite the growth of electric sales, manufacturers continue to warn that the market will not support the growth required to hit government EV targets, and called for consumer incentives and the extension of tax breaks.
The AA suggested the government’s plan focuses on “supply but does little to encourage demand for EVs”.
It called on ministers to co-ordinate a public awareness campaign alongside the motoring industry which directly targets drivers who doubt the viability of EVs.
“Our message to government is more needs to be done to make EVs accessible for everyone,” said Jakob Pfaudler, AA chief executive.
Which? head of consumer rights Sue Davis said: “When it comes to making sustainable choices such as switching to an electric car, our research shows that people are often held back by high costs, complex choices or uncertainty.
“The government needs to provide the right information on electric vehicles and other sustainable choices so that people have the confidence to switch.”
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “We’re investing over £2.3bn to help industry and consumers make a supported switch to EVs.
“This includes installing a public charge point every 28 minutes, keeping EV incentives in the company car tax regime to 2030, and extending 100% first-year allowances for zero-emission cars for another year.
“Second-hand EVs are also becoming cheaper than ever, with one in three available under £20,000 and 21 brand new models available for less than £30,000.
“We’re seeing growing consumer confidence as a result.”
-
Sports2 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports11 months agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports1 year agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports3 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business2 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway