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Welsh politicians who behave badly may face recall votes in the future. Members of the Senedd who break regulations on conduct could be forced to face a referendum-like vote on whether they should continue in their roles in Cardiff Bay. While they won’t be removed from office completely like Westminster members, they would be replaced by somebody else from the same party. The plans have been criticised, however, by an election reform group which claims voters may lose out.
According to Hannah Blythyn, the chair of the committee which proposed this new system: “Politicians must act with decency and integrity and if they fail to do so, they should be accountable to the public for their actions.” The Welsh government has pledged to enact this plan as legislation before the Welsh Parliament election in May 2026.
Currently, Senedd members could be suspended if they are found to be violating the code of conduct, but they cannot be completely removed from Parliament like Westminster members. Issues surrounding this issue have intensified as the Senedd plans to increase its membership to 96 and introduce a new electoral system.
Under these proposals, a process dubbed the “remove and replace” ballot will be introduced to ensure voter comprehension. This allows voters to choose whether they wish to retain the existing politician or elect an alternative within the same party. It is projected that this will decrease the potential for accountability and lead to one party potentially being rewarded for the wrongdoing of one of its members.
The Welsh government claims that they are studying the proposals carefully and will respond in due course. The committee is calling for a different proposal that will trigger a ballot in the Senedd to be developed, and if a set number of days is required by law, then it should be more than 10 days. An MS will also be subject to a ballot if they get a prison sentence of up to 12 months
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