Member of the Senedd: Difference between revisions
imported>Peterwlane Corrected Welsh for ‘member’ |
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{{Short description|Representative in the devolved parliament of Wales}} | {{Short description|Representative in the devolved parliament of Wales}} | ||
{{For|current members of the Senedd| | {{For-multi|current members of the Senedd|6th Senedd|all of them|List of members of the Senedd}} | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}} | {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}} | ||
{{Use British English|date=March 2017}} | {{Use British English|date=March 2017}} | ||
{{Infobox official post | |||
| post = Member | |||
| body = the [[Senedd]] | |||
| native_name = {{native name|cy|Aelod o'r Senedd}} | |||
| image = | |||
| imagesize = | |||
| alt = | |||
| imagecaption = | |||
| incumbent = [[6th Senedd]] | |||
| acting = | |||
| incumbentsince = [[2021 Senedd election|2021 election]] | |||
| department = | |||
| style = | |||
| type = [[Member of Parliament]] | |||
| status = | |||
| abbreviation = MS ([[plural]]: MSs);<br>({{langx|cy|AS}}, plural: {{lang|cy|ASau}}) | |||
| member_of = the [[Senedd]] | |||
| residence = [[Senedd building]] | |||
| seat = [[Senedd constituencies and electoral regions|List of constituencies and electoral regions]] | |||
| nominator = | |||
| appointer = | |||
| appointer_qualified = | |||
| termlength = 5 years | |||
| constituting_instrument = [[Government of Wales Act 1998]] | |||
| precursor = | |||
| inaugural = [[Members of the 1st National Assembly for Wales|1st National Assembly]] | |||
| formation = 1999 | |||
| founder = | |||
| named_for = | |||
| first = | |||
| last = | |||
| abolished = | |||
| succession = | |||
| unofficial_names = Member of the Welsh Parliament;<br> Welsh Parliament Member;<br>Assembly Member (AM; 1999{{em dash}}2020) | |||
| deputy = | |||
| salary = [[Pound sterling|£]]67,920 | |||
| website = | |||
| footnotes = | |||
}} | |||
{{Politics of Wales}} | {{Politics of Wales}} | ||
[[File:Senedd | [[File:Senedd October 2025.svg|thumb|Diagram showing the current party affiliation of the 60 members of the Senedd as of October 2025. Colours below, left to right:{{legend|#E4003B|[[Welsh Labour|Labour]]: 29 seats}}{{legend|#0087DC|[[Welsh Conservatives|Conservative]]: 14 seats}}{{legend|#005B54|[[Plaid Cymru]]: 13 seats}}{{legend|#FF6400|[[Welsh Liberal Democrats|Liberal Democrat]]: 1 seat}}{{Legend|#26C6DA|[[Reform UK]]: 1 seat}}{{legend|#DCDCDC|[[Independent politician|Independent]]: 2 seats}}]] | ||
A '''member of the Senedd''' ('''MS'''; [[plural]]: ''MSs''; {{langx|cy|aelod o'r Senedd}}; {{Langx|cy|AS|label=none}}, plural: {{lang|cy|ASau}}){{efn-la| | A '''member of the Senedd''' ('''MS'''; [[plural]]: ''MSs''; {{langx|cy|aelod o'r Senedd}}; {{Langx|cy|AS|label=none}}, plural: {{lang|cy|ASau}}), also known as a '''member of the Welsh Parliament''',{{efn-la|as also used in English-language media and by members, using the legislature's official English name, the "Welsh Parliament".|group=la}} is a representative elected to the [[Senedd]] (Welsh Parliament; {{Langx|cy|Senedd Cymru}}). There are sixty members, with forty members chosen to represent individual [[Senedd constituency|Senedd constituencies]], and twenty to represent the five [[Senedd electoral regions|electoral regions]] of the Senedd in [[Wales]]. | ||
Each person in Wales is represented by five MSs: one for their local constituency (encompassing their local area where they reside), and another four covering their electoral region (a large grouping of constituencies). Wales's five electoral regions are [[Mid and West Wales (Senedd electoral region)|Mid and West Wales]], [[North Wales (Senedd electoral region)|North Wales]], [[South Wales Central (Senedd electoral region)|South Wales Central]], [[South Wales East (Senedd electoral region)|South Wales East]] and [[South Wales West (Senedd electoral region)|South Wales West]].<ref>[http://exploretheassembly.org/lang/en-uk/your-am/what-does-an-am-do-welsh Explore the Assembly education website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130111030453/http://exploretheassembly.org/lang/en-uk/your-am/what-does-an-am-do-welsh |date=11 January 2013 }}</ref> | Each person in Wales is represented by five MSs: one for their local constituency (encompassing their local area where they reside), and another four covering their electoral region (a large grouping of constituencies). Wales's five electoral regions are [[Mid and West Wales (Senedd electoral region)|Mid and West Wales]], [[North Wales (Senedd electoral region)|North Wales]], [[South Wales Central (Senedd electoral region)|South Wales Central]], [[South Wales East (Senedd electoral region)|South Wales East]] and [[South Wales West (Senedd electoral region)|South Wales West]].<ref>[http://exploretheassembly.org/lang/en-uk/your-am/what-does-an-am-do-welsh Explore the Assembly education website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130111030453/http://exploretheassembly.org/lang/en-uk/your-am/what-does-an-am-do-welsh |date=11 January 2013 }}</ref> | ||
A holder of this office was formerly known as an '''assembly member''' ('''AM'''; plural: AMs; {{langx|cy|aelodau'r cynulliad}}; {{Langx|cy|AC|label=none}}, plural: {{lang|cy|ACau}}), under the legislature's former name, the [[National Assembly for Wales]], from its [[1999 National Assembly for Wales election|inception in 1999]] until [[Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020|2020 when it adopted its current names]], Welsh Parliament, and {{Langx|cy|Senedd Cymru|label=none}}, simply referred to as Senedd in both [[English language|English]] and [[Welsh language|Welsh]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/anaw/2020/1/section/4/enacted/data.htm|website=www.legislation.gov.uk|access-date=2020-05-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Explanatory Notes to Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/anaw/2020/1/notes/division/1/5/1/data.htm|last=Commission|first=Assembly|website=www.legislation.gov.uk|access-date=2020-05-03}}</ref> | A holder of this office was formerly known as an '''assembly member''' ('''AM'''; plural: AMs; {{langx|cy|aelodau'r cynulliad}}; {{Langx|cy|AC|label=none}}, plural: {{lang|cy|ACau}}), under the legislature's former name, the [[National Assembly for Wales]], from its [[1999 National Assembly for Wales election|inception in 1999]] until [[Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020|2020 when it adopted its current names]], Welsh Parliament, and {{Langx|cy|Senedd Cymru|label=none}}, simply referred to as Senedd in both [[English language|English]] and [[Welsh language|Welsh]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/anaw/2020/1/section/4/enacted/data.htm|website=www.legislation.gov.uk|access-date=2020-05-03}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Explanatory Notes to Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/anaw/2020/1/notes/division/1/5/1/data.htm|last=Commission|first=Assembly|website=www.legislation.gov.uk|access-date=2020-05-03}}</ref> | ||
Since 2011, members are elected for a five-year [[term of office]] under an [[additional member system]], in which 40 MSs represent smaller geographical divisions known as [[Senedd constituencies and electoral regions|"constituencies"]] and are elected by [[first-past-the-post voting]], and 20 MSs represent [[Senedd constituencies and electoral regions|five "electoral regions"]] using the [[D'Hondt method]] of [[proportional representation]]. Typically, the largest party holding the largest number of MSs in the Senedd forms the Welsh Government, and in the event of not securing a majority of MSs, the largest party has first rights to begin coalition talks with other smaller parties. Prior to 2011, they held four-year terms, with some MSs calling for a return of four-year terms from the current five.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-07-06|title=Call for Senedd to return to elections every four years as Westminster poised to scrap fixed terms|url=https://nation.cymru/news/call-for-senedd-to-return-to-elections-every-four-years-as-westminster-poised-to-scrap-fixed-terms/|access-date=2021-07-27|website=Nation.Cymru|language=en-GB}}</ref> From the next Senedd election, due in 2026, the size of the Senedd will increase to 96.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-05-19|title=Mark Drakeford backs calls for bigger Welsh Parliament|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-57116856|access-date=2021-07-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Welsh democracy is under threat, we need more members of the Senedd now more than ever|url=https://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/welsh-democracy-is-under-threat-we-need-more-members-of-the-senedd-now-more-than-ever/|access-date=2021-07-25|website=www.electoral-reform.org.uk|language=en-US}}</ref> | Since 2011, members are elected for a five-year [[term of office]] under an [[additional member system]], in which 40 MSs represent smaller geographical divisions known as [[Senedd constituencies and electoral regions|"constituencies"]] and are elected by [[first-past-the-post voting]], and 20 MSs represent [[Senedd constituencies and electoral regions|five "electoral regions"]] using the [[D'Hondt method]] of [[proportional representation]]. Typically, the largest party holding the largest number of MSs in the Senedd forms the Welsh Government, and in the event of not securing a majority of MSs, the largest party has first rights to begin coalition talks with other smaller parties. Prior to 2011, they held four-year terms, with some MSs calling for a return of four-year terms from the current five.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-07-06|title=Call for Senedd to return to elections every four years as Westminster poised to scrap fixed terms|url=https://nation.cymru/news/call-for-senedd-to-return-to-elections-every-four-years-as-westminster-poised-to-scrap-fixed-terms/|access-date=2021-07-27|website=Nation.Cymru|language=en-GB}}</ref> From the next Senedd election, due in 2026, the size of the Senedd will increase to 96.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-05-19|title=Mark Drakeford backs calls for bigger Welsh Parliament|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-57116856|access-date=2021-07-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Welsh democracy is under threat, we need more members of the Senedd now more than ever|url=https://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/welsh-democracy-is-under-threat-we-need-more-members-of-the-senedd-now-more-than-ever/|access-date=2021-07-25|website=www.electoral-reform.org.uk|language=en-US}}</ref> | ||
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A constituency vacancy may be filled by a [[by-election]]. An additional member vacancy may be filled by the next available candidate on the relevant party list. | A constituency vacancy may be filled by a [[by-election]]. An additional member vacancy may be filled by the next available candidate on the relevant party list. | ||
== Renaming == | |||
Holders of this office were first called an "Assembly Member" ({{langx|cy|Aelod Cynulliad}}), abbreviated to "AM" in English (plural: AMs; or in {{Langx|cy|AC|links=no}}, plural: {{lang|cy|ACau}}), under the legislature's then name, the [[National Assembly for Wales]], from its [[1999 National Assembly for Wales election|inception in 1999]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> | |||
In June 2018, the [[Assembly Commission]] held a public consultation into a potential name change, with the commission favouring the title "Welsh Parliament Member", abbreviated to "WPM", in line with the existing name.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=2018-09-30 |title=Welsh AMs worried about 'looking like muppets' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-45699408 |access-date=2025-10-04 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> The public consultation showed the most supported option was "Member of the Welsh Parliament" (MWP) at 30%, followed by "Member of the Senedd" (MS) on 28.4%, and the commission's preferred option on 11.1%.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-06-13 |title=Assembly set to be renamed Welsh Parliament |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-40263684 |access-date=2025-10-04 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> "Member of the Welsh Parliament", abbreviated to MWP, raised concerns from some AMs, over potential ridicle. Their concerns were that the abbreviation "MWP" was too close to Welsh words "{{lang|cy|twp}}" ({{gloss|daft}}) and "{{lang|cy|pwp}}" ({{gloss|poo}}), or sounding similar to a Welsh pronunciation of "muppet".<ref name=":2" /> [[Elin Jones]], [[Presiding Officer of National Assembly for Wales]], called for the legislature to be called just the "Senedd", leading to members being called a "Member of the Senedd" as a way to address the concerns. Although this raised its own concerns that the corresponding Welsh name "{{Lang|cy|Aelod o'r Senedd}}" would have the same Welsh abbreviation as "{{Lang|cy|Aelodau Seneddol}}" for [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Members of Parliament]] to the [[UK Parliament]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-11-12 |title=Assembly set to be renamed Senedd, instead of Welsh Parliament |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-46180039 |access-date=2025-10-04 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> | |||
In 2020, the legislature was renamed following the ratification of the [[Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020]], which renamed the legislature as the "Welsh Parliament" in English, and "{{Langx|cy|Senedd Cymru|label=none}}" in Welsh.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> Holders of the office would instead be called a "Member of the Senedd", abbreviated to "MS", or in Welsh, {{Lang|cy|Aelod o'r Senedd}} (AS).<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-05-05 |title=Why are Welsh Assembly Members changing their name? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-52442634 |access-date=2025-10-04 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> While "Member(s) of the Welsh Parliament" has also been used.<ref>{{Cite web |title=People {{!}} The Welsh Conservative Party |url=https://www.conservatives.wales/people/type/Member-of-the-Welsh-Parliament |access-date=2025-10-04 |website=www.conservatives.wales}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Members of the Welsh Parliament |url=https://party.coop/people/ms/ |access-date=2025-10-04 |website=Co-operative Party |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-03-28 |title=Senedd: Welsh Parliament politicians get 3% pay rise |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-68676593 |access-date=2025-10-04 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> | |||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
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* [[Members of the 3rd National Assembly for Wales]] | * [[Members of the 3rd National Assembly for Wales]] | ||
* [[Members of the 4th National Assembly for Wales]] | * [[Members of the 4th National Assembly for Wales]] | ||
* [[Members of the 5th National Assembly for Wales | * [[Members of the 5th National Assembly for Wales]] (or 5th Senedd) | ||
* [[Members of the 6th Senedd]] | * [[Members of the 6th Senedd]] | ||
* [[2016 National Assembly for Wales election]] | * [[2016 National Assembly for Wales election]] | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
{{Senedd}} | |||
{{Current MSs|state=collapsed}} | {{Current MSs|state=collapsed}} | ||
Latest revision as of 19:35, 24 October 2025
Template:Short description Template:For-multi Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:Infobox official post Template:Politics of Wales
A member of the Senedd (MS; plural: MSs; Template:Langx; Template:Langx, plural: Script error: No such module "Lang".), also known as a member of the Welsh Parliament,Template:Efn-la is a representative elected to the Senedd (Welsh Parliament; Template:Langx). There are sixty members, with forty members chosen to represent individual Senedd constituencies, and twenty to represent the five electoral regions of the Senedd in Wales.
Each person in Wales is represented by five MSs: one for their local constituency (encompassing their local area where they reside), and another four covering their electoral region (a large grouping of constituencies). Wales's five electoral regions are Mid and West Wales, North Wales, South Wales Central, South Wales East and South Wales West.[1]
A holder of this office was formerly known as an assembly member (AM; plural: AMs; Template:Langx; Template:Langx, plural: Script error: No such module "Lang".), under the legislature's former name, the National Assembly for Wales, from its inception in 1999 until 2020 when it adopted its current names, Welsh Parliament, and Template:Langx, simply referred to as Senedd in both English and Welsh.[2][3]
Since 2011, members are elected for a five-year term of office under an additional member system, in which 40 MSs represent smaller geographical divisions known as "constituencies" and are elected by first-past-the-post voting, and 20 MSs represent five "electoral regions" using the D'Hondt method of proportional representation. Typically, the largest party holding the largest number of MSs in the Senedd forms the Welsh Government, and in the event of not securing a majority of MSs, the largest party has first rights to begin coalition talks with other smaller parties. Prior to 2011, they held four-year terms, with some MSs calling for a return of four-year terms from the current five.[4] From the next Senedd election, due in 2026, the size of the Senedd will increase to 96.[5][6]
Methods of election
MSs are elected in one of two ways:[7]
Forty are elected as constituency MSs and twenty are elected as additional members, four from each of five regional groups of constituencies. This additional member system produces a form of proportional representation for each region.
Elections
All MSs positions become simultaneously vacant for elections held on a five-year cycle. If a vacancy arises at another time, due to death or resignation, it may be filled in one of two ways, depending on whether the vacancy is for a first-past-the-post constituency MS or for an additional-member MS.
A constituency vacancy may be filled by a by-election. An additional member vacancy may be filled by the next available candidate on the relevant party list.
Renaming
Holders of this office were first called an "Assembly Member" (Template:Langx), abbreviated to "AM" in English (plural: AMs; or in Template:Langx, plural: Script error: No such module "Lang".), under the legislature's then name, the National Assembly for Wales, from its inception in 1999.[2][3]
In June 2018, the Assembly Commission held a public consultation into a potential name change, with the commission favouring the title "Welsh Parliament Member", abbreviated to "WPM", in line with the existing name.[8] The public consultation showed the most supported option was "Member of the Welsh Parliament" (MWP) at 30%, followed by "Member of the Senedd" (MS) on 28.4%, and the commission's preferred option on 11.1%.[9] "Member of the Welsh Parliament", abbreviated to MWP, raised concerns from some AMs, over potential ridicle. Their concerns were that the abbreviation "MWP" was too close to Welsh words "Script error: No such module "Lang"." (Template:Gloss) and "Script error: No such module "Lang"." (Template:Gloss), or sounding similar to a Welsh pronunciation of "muppet".[8] Elin Jones, Presiding Officer of National Assembly for Wales, called for the legislature to be called just the "Senedd", leading to members being called a "Member of the Senedd" as a way to address the concerns. Although this raised its own concerns that the corresponding Welsh name "Script error: No such module "Lang"." would have the same Welsh abbreviation as "Script error: No such module "Lang"." for Members of Parliament to the UK Parliament.[10]
In 2020, the legislature was renamed following the ratification of the Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020, which renamed the legislature as the "Welsh Parliament" in English, and "Template:Langx" in Welsh.[2][3] Holders of the office would instead be called a "Member of the Senedd", abbreviated to "MS", or in Welsh, Script error: No such module "Lang". (AS).[11] While "Member(s) of the Welsh Parliament" has also been used.[12][13][14]
See also
- List of members of the Senedd
- List of female members of the Senedd
- List of Plaid Cymru MSs
- Members of the 1st National Assembly for Wales
- Members of the 2nd National Assembly for Wales
- Members of the 3rd National Assembly for Wales
- Members of the 4th National Assembly for Wales
- Members of the 5th National Assembly for Wales (or 5th Senedd)
- Members of the 6th Senedd
- 2016 National Assembly for Wales election
- 2021 Senedd election
- Senedd constituencies and electoral regions
- Member of Parliament
- Member of the Legislative Assembly (Northern Ireland)
- Member of the Scottish Parliament
Notes
References
Template:Reflist Template:Senedd Template:Current MSs
- ↑ Explore the Assembly education website Template:Webarchive
- ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".