, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Trefnydd and Chief Whip
Diolch yn fawr. Of course, it's great that we're moving forward with Senedd reform, isn't it, in terms of what happened yesterday and hopefully next week as we take forward the Members and elections Bill. And also, we've got the Elections and Elected Bodies…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Trefnydd and Chief Whip
Yes, indeed, we have. I think we've possibly even discussed this at an earlier session of this Senedd reform committee. Could I just actually say something else just in response to your earlier question? In terms of the horizontal rule, which is of course the…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Trefnydd and Chief Whip
In terms of the vertical rule, we hope it wouldn't be necessary for a returning officer, for example, to reject a list for failing to meet the vertical rule. But it shouldn't be difficult in terms of the political parties getting this right. In the statement…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Trefnydd and Chief Whip
The enforcement proposals are very much in line with the recommendation of the special purpose committee, and you will obviously have seen that report. We’ve heard from academics, you’ve heard from academics giving evidence to the committee, that the…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Trefnydd and Chief Whip
Thank you very much for the question.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Trefnydd and Chief Whip
We're talking about political parties' role in relation to this Bill, and the important role that they will play. Clearly, political parties have given evidence, and you questioned them on this point. I think it’s also very important that there’s been a great…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Trefnydd and Chief Whip
I think that's a really important question, Cadeirydd. The role of political parties is crucial for us to achieve what we seek to achieve, which is a gender-balanced Senedd. I think, also, just looking at the evidence that came from political parties before…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill: Evidence session with the Trefnydd and Chief Whip
Diolch yn fawr, Cadeirydd. Can I introduce Will Whiteley, who's the deputy director for Senedd reform, Catrin Davies, who's the head of diversity policy for Senedd reform, and Anna Hind, senior Government lawyer?
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Cap on political donations
And I think the Senedd, by hopefully next week, will also move to Stage 4—symud ymlaen—with Senedd reform, to make sure that we can extend the democratic mandate effectively of this Senedd, and devolution 25 years on. There's a lot we can celebrate next week.
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Cap on political donations
I'm grateful to Alun Davies for making that intervention today, because I think this is precisely why this debate can be respectful and can also feed back into the discussions and the review that will take place. As I said—and it goes back to what Andrew R.T…
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Cap on political donations
—of the Labour Party.
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Cap on political donations
I think in terms of responding to this debate, Mabon, which I'm doing as Trefnydd, I was going to actually say, and I think you would welcome this, Mabon, that I'm very glad that this debate has, actually, constructively debated your motion. That's what you…
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Cap on political donations
Mabon.
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Cap on political donations
So, Llywydd, as the First Minister has repeatedly set out, all of the relevant rules have been complied with, and that's been acknowledged again this afternoon. I think, for the record, it's important to again state that the Welsh Government's propriety and…
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Cap on political donations
Thank you very much, Llywydd. In response to this debate, Llywydd, it has been good to talk about standards today. Scrutiny in an open and constructive way is welcomed.
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Cap on political donations
Formally.
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Leadership campaign donations and the ministerial code
It is also very appropriate that I, as Trefnydd, am addressing and responding to this debate that you've put forward today. And I will repeat the point I made that I'm glad that the leader of the opposition does want to move on. I think the whole Senedd…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Leadership campaign donations and the ministerial code
I'll take an intervention.
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Leadership campaign donations and the ministerial code
Can I just say finally that I'm glad, too, that the leader of the opposition wants to move on? We're moving on as a Welsh Government—[Interruption.] We're moving on as a Welsh Government to address the challenges facing the people of Wales—
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Leadership campaign donations and the ministerial code
Finally, Llywydd, in responding to the motion and the amendment, I state once again that our decisions comply with the rules and the code has not been broken. There are steps in place to keep constituency business apart from ministerial business. This is in…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Leadership campaign donations and the ministerial code
No, not at this stage. I've got a short period and I've got a lot to say. I'm going to say, in response to the motion, that the First Minister and all of us in this Cabinet are committed to upholding the ministerial code. And it's entirely right that whoever…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Leadership campaign donations and the ministerial code
I would say to Members here today that I'm responding—
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Leadership campaign donations and the ministerial code
Thank you, Llywydd. Having listened carefully, I haven't heard anything new today. We have responded to these points previously. Llywydd, Members have heard the facts from the First Minister himself in the Chamber and in the Senedd.
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Leadership campaign donations and the ministerial code
Formally.
, Plenary
Business Statement and Announcement
Well, thank you very much, Adam Price, and thank you for the way Members, and yourself and your colleagues, and our colleagues across the Chamber, engaged so clearly last week, and, of course, we acknowledge family members as well. I think the Cabinet…
