Voters in Wales may soon have the ability to remove politicians who misbehave from the Welsh Parliament, thanks to new proposals that could be enacted by 2026. Under these plans, members of the Senedd (MS) who violate rules on behavior could be subject to a referendum-like vote to determine whether they should continue serving in Cardiff Bay. Unlike recall by-elections in Westminster, where the politician is replaced by someone from a different party, the new system would involve a replacement from the same party.
Hannah Blythyn, chair of the committee behind the proposals, emphasized the importance of decency and integrity in politics, stating that those who fail to meet these standards should be held accountable by the public. However, the plan has faced criticism from election reform groups, who argue that voters would lose the right to choose a replacement and would only be able to select from the party’s original list of candidates.
Currently, when Senedd members break the code of conduct, they can be suspended but cannot be removed from parliament entirely. For example, Rhys ab Owen, who was suspended after being found guilty of inappropriate behavior, faced no possibility of removal as an MS, unlike Westminster MPs who could face a recall petition after committing serious offenses.
Under the proposed changes, a recall process would allow voters to decide, through a vote held six weeks after a recommendation, whether to replace a misbehaving MS with the next candidate on the party’s list. If the politician in question has left the party by that time, the replacement would still come from the same party. Public opinion in areas like Brecon, Powys, has been largely supportive of the idea, with many people emphasizing the importance of trust in elected officials.
To make the process easier to understand, the committee has proposed a straightforward “remove and replace” ballot, where voters would choose between keeping the current MS or replacing them with the next person on the list from the same party. However, some critics argue that this system would limit accountability and prevent voters from having a say in which party replaces the misbehaving MS.
The upcoming reforms, which are set to take effect after the 2026 Senedd elections, will use a proportional closed-list voting system, which has also faced criticism for limiting voter choice. Despite reservations about the new system, the changes have gained significant support across party lines, though further work is required to define what level of offense would trigger the recall process.
The Welsh government has promised to consider the committee’s recommendations in detail and respond accordingly. The new system aims to give voters more power over their elected representatives while maintaining accountability within the parliament.
