SCECLB72 Individual

Senedd Cymru | Welsh Parliament

Y Pwyllgor Biliau Diwygio | Reform Bill Committee

Bil Senedd Cymru (Rhestrau Ymgeiswyr Etholiadol)| Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill

Ymateb gan Unigolyn | Evidence from Individual

What are your views on the general principles of the Bill and the need for legislation to deliver the Welsh Government’s stated policy objective (to make the Senedd a more effective legislature by ensuring it is broadly representative of the gender make-up of the population)?

The prospect of not being able to vote for a candidate, merely a party, is entirely off putting to me. Politics has always been about individuals who represent their constituents, and the party to which they belong. If you remove the personal element, people will become even more disenfranchised and disassociated from politics than they already are. And that's before you consider that whomever is elected, achieves that by convincing the public that they are the best person for the job. How can people legitimately decide who they want if they are given no choice in that element? I note that the new Cabinet is 9/14 F/M. So there isn't a problem is there? What are you trying to fix?

What are your views on the system of enforcement and potential sanctions for non-compliance proposed in the Bill?

What on earth? Woman or non-woman? The establishment is actually losing the plot. Equality is important. Part of that is honesty, and certainly not discrimination of any kind, especially positive discrimination. Do you want a nation of people who may well consider that 'she's only in the job because it was rigged'? How will that build confidence and equality. It totally does the opposite, and undermines the good work done elsewhere. Just silly.

Are there any potential barriers to the implementation of the Bill’s provisions? If so, what are they, and are they adequately taken into account in the Bill and the accompanying Explanatory Memorandum and Regulatory Impact Assessment?

The bill will no doubt become enacted. I don't see a barrier to it. What I do see is a 'border' being erected between different sectors of society to fit a political narrative. Will there be a bill to ensure that 6% of Senedd members are ginger? If not, why not?

Are any unintended consequences likely to arise from the Bill?

See above. This would dismay a lot of people who truly believe in equality. Positions of such responsibility should be earned, not awarded as a result of a fudge.

What are your views on the Welsh Government’s assessment of the financial and other impacts of the Bill?

I suspect they will be wildy inaccurate.

What are your views on the balance between the information contained on the face of the Bill and what is left to subordinate legislation? Are the powers for Welsh Ministers to make subordinate legislation appropriate?

The explanatory memorandum is 78 pages. What a bureaucratic delight for the Welsh adminisphere. Ministers will no doubt find a way to exert their will with minimal interference from the electorate.

Do you have any views on matters relating to the legislative competence of the Senedd including compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights?

No.

Do you have any views on matters related to the quality of the legislation, or to the constitutional or other implications of the Bill?

Please can we just have a meritocracy.

Are there any other issues that you would like to raise about the Bill and the accompanying Explanatory Memorandum or any related matters?

Anything else?

I'd rather that WG spent this much energy on helping the Welsh economy, particularly for SME's. Sooner or later, we're going to run out of other people's money.