SCECLB300 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)?

What is a woman? You are not a woman just because you say you are. How can the Welsh government’s figures ever be taken seriously if they are based on self ID? Your figures on health, crime, finance and employment would be meaningless. You recognise there is a need for more women in government, especially to protect the rights and safety of women and girls but would allow penised individuals to take those roles from women. If you want trans representation, employ trans people, but don’t pretend they are women.

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

What is the point of a CRO if there is no checks on statements made. What is the point of saying you want to employ more women if men can say they are women and you won’t check the veracity of this.

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?

It is surely not legal to pretend you are something you are not. This would not be allowed in other spheres so why would you allow it when you are specifically looking to employ more “women”, ie female humans. You make a mockery of the process by allowing those who are not women to pretend they are.

Are any unintended consequences likely to arise from the Bill?

Women have long required someone to understand their viewpoint in government when applying laws - look at the impact on domestic violence during lockdown when female voices were not heard. How about delivering on promises to keep women and girls safe and being fairly represented in the workplace and sports before sorting Out trans rights.

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

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?

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

Only that you will not meet your own quotas of women in government if you are in fact employing men pretending to be women, which is what self IDing would mean.

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

It’s like an April fools joke. We need more women! What’s a woman? Anyone who says they are!