, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Trefnydd and Chief Whip
Not amongst the population there's not a lot of strong support for it, including women, who by 2:1 disagree that there should be gender quotas. But if I can just move on to costs, Minister, you obviously have an indication of costs, which you’ve set out in…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Trefnydd and Chief Whip
I'm not disputing that evidence, Minister, but I'm just asking you about—
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Trefnydd and Chief Whip
But you're not taking the public with you, are you?
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Trefnydd and Chief Whip
But, just to be clear, regardless of the public's position at present—and I appreciate things can change in terms of public attitudes, but—regardless of the public position being 3:1 against gender quotas, you're going to press ahead anyway.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Trefnydd and Chief Whip
Before I come on to costs, if I may, Minister, I just wondered what consideration the Welsh Government has given to public attitudes towards gender quotas. There was some YouGov polling undertaken on behalf of the committee, and it suggested that support for…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Leadership campaign donations and the ministerial code
One of the things that was not in the public domain at the time that the previous First Minister undertook his review as to whether there had been a breach of the ministerial code was the fact that a £200,000 donation had been made by a company that had…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Leadership campaign donations and the ministerial code
Will you take an intervention?
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Leadership campaign donations and the ministerial code
No, I haven't.
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Leadership campaign donations and the ministerial code
I'm just asking you; it's a genuine question.
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Leadership campaign donations and the ministerial code
Well, not all of the information was in the public domain, available for public scrutiny, prior to the previous First Minister investigating matters, including the convictions related to this company and the links to the taxi firm—
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Leadership campaign donations and the ministerial code
I’m grateful to you for taking the intervention. I’m just querying: did you say that this matter has been investigated by the previous First Minister?
, Plenary
Group 11: Referendum on the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024 (Amendments 37, 38)
So, we have a party that supports first-past-the-post and it's always expressed its position—that that is the position of the Conservative Party. I've explained that to you in the past. We've not been arguing about first-past-the-post today; as it happens…
, Plenary
Group 11: Referendum on the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024 (Amendments 37, 38)
And I would never regard your comments as a pantomime, and I'm disappointed that you regarded my comments as being pantomime-esque, as they were not; they were very serious. I think that the public deserve to have their opportunity to have their say on these…
, Plenary
Group 11: Referendum on the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024 (Amendments 37, 38)
Well, I was disappointed to hear Heledd Fychan's remarks, suggesting that I was a person trying to undermine devolution in some way. I just explained to you earlier, Heledd, that I proudly stood on a platform back in 2011 to give more powers to this Senedd…
, Plenary
Group 11: Referendum on the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024 (Amendments 37, 38)
Look, I've made it clear that if you gave clear commitments on your campaign trails, which you did not, about a closed list system, about 96 Members, about scrapping first-past-the-post, then I would have a great deal of sympathy with the arguments that you…
, Plenary
Group 11: Referendum on the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024 (Amendments 37, 38)
It was a clear commitment to change. [Interruption.] It was a clear commitment given by the leadership of the party during the last election campaign. I'll happily take an intervention.
, Plenary
Group 11: Referendum on the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024 (Amendments 37, 38)
It was a clear commitment.
, Plenary
Group 11: Referendum on the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024 (Amendments 37, 38)
At least I read your manifesto. [Interruption.] At least I read your manifesto. Where's the STV?
, Plenary
Group 11: Referendum on the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024 (Amendments 37, 38)
It was a clear manifesto commitment.
, Plenary
Group 11: Referendum on the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024 (Amendments 37, 38)
This was a clear manifesto commitment. Would you like to make—?
, Plenary
Group 11: Referendum on the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024 (Amendments 37, 38)
Well, you'll have to—. If I don't follow your words, and I'm a person with a keen interest in politics, including what the First Minister was saying during the election campaign, how do you think a member of the public—? How do you think a member of the…
, Plenary
Group 11: Referendum on the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024 (Amendments 37, 38)
So, when there are clear commitments in a manifesto, you have a mandate—[Interruption.] I've just demonstrated to you that you didn't make a clear commitment in your manifesto to take forward this particular package of changes. I can see the former First…
, Plenary
Group 11: Referendum on the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024 (Amendments 37, 38)
Diolch, Llywydd. I move amendments 37 and 38, both of which have been tabled in my name, and, of course, we’ve reached Stage 3, towards the end of Stage 3, of the proceedings for this Bill, but we all know that an increase in the size of the Senedd and a…
, Plenary
Group 8: Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru: annual reports (Amendment 41)
Thank you, Llywydd, and thank you, Minister, for at least explaining your position on this particular amendment. Obviously, I'm disappointed. I think this is a straightforward amendment. I don't think it's controversial at all. And even if there were some…
, Plenary
Group 8: Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru: annual reports (Amendment 41)
Diolch, Llywydd. I rise to move amendment 41. If the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill is passed, then the renamed Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru will have a very important task of reviewing the boundaries of Senedd constituencies, alongside…
