The Senedd Election 2026

[Darran]

This is the most tedious gotcha question out there.

It’s such an obvious ploy to beat more progressive people with. I find it a shameful tactic.

In the end 99.9% of course it makes no sense. But there’s a very small part of the population who have gender dysphoria.

So ie a populist right winger will of course say “it’s obvious innit” and get the votes over the person who might look at it with a little more thought.

It’s a the route of what is wrong with politics today. This idea everything is an easy answer. There is no room for subtlety.

It’s a very easy question to answer though and I have no idea why people are afraid to answer it.

 

[Darran]

I haven't got grandchildren unfortunately, but I do have concerns for my eldest with the way things are going, but at 32 and an intelligent thinker and doer he should be fine.
My youngest will require round the clock as he does now so I'm sure is Brother will make sure he gets it.

We have had to put things similar in place this week actually.

 

[Niigata Jack]

Can the more politically savvy amongst us explain why we can't call an early election in Wales?

The message of despair being bandied about by Drakeford and his gang doesn't make for good reading.

Spending cuts loom if Drakeford budget falls in Senedd

Public services could face big cuts if Mark Drakeford cannot get other parties to back his budget.

www.bbc.co.uk

They’ve taken Wales for granted for too long, been increasingly shown as inadequate, and they are incumbent, which is a terrible place to be just now. They are effectively the equivalent of UK Tories of June 2024. They are on the shit end of the ‘change’ stick.

I’d still take them 100 times out of 100 over the more incompetent facists. That said, Reform running Wales might well kill them as a UK option, when they show how corrupt and shit they are. Not sure I want to be part of that experiment.

I think its a case of, will the last person to leave please turn the lights off.

 

[Frankie Burrows Cap]

If anyone’s watching the Caerphilly debate it’s going to be a hard watch to get through an hour of it!

 

[Jack2jack]

How on earth are we so bereft of any credible politicians/patries in Wales. It beggars belief. It's a sad state of affairs that there is barely anyone worthy of taking over the reins from the current incumbents, its bloody tragic.
The state of this country is appalling.

 

[Frankie Burrows Cap]

How on earth are we so bereft of any credible politicians/patries in Wales. It beggars belief. It's a sad state of affairs that there is barely anyone worthy of taking over the reins from the current incumbents, its bloody tragic.
The state of this country is appalling.

Controversial view but it’s partly because they’re not paid enough. If you want to get people at the top of their field you have to give them a reason to go into politics. As part of that, they shouldn’t be allowed to hold any other jobs/consultancy roles whilst in office though.

 

[Cooperman]

Controversial view but it’s partly because they’re not paid enough. If you want to get people at the top of their field you have to give them a reason to go into politics. As part of that, they shouldn’t be allowed to hold any other jobs/consultancy roles whilst in office though.

This has been a long standing view of mine. Cut the numbers in half and double the salary. Attract the best available talent and deter them from looking for a side gravy train.

 

[Jack2jack]

Controversial view but it’s partly because they’re not paid enough. If you want to get people at the top of their field you have to give them a reason to go into politics. As part of that, they shouldn’t be allowed to hold any other jobs/consultancy roles whilst in office though.

I hear what you are saying Frankie, I agree that to attract top people you need to pay top wages, as is the case in all walks of life, it doesnt necessarily mean you get the best in all cases mind you, taps nose, wink wink, jobs for the boys etc, but yes I'd partly agree. There was a time when I wasnt just about the money either. As an aside Senedd backbenchers get in excess of 70K per annum, which isnt a bad screw.

 

[Frankie Burrows Cap]

I hear what you are saying Frankie, I agree that to attract top people you need to pay top wages, as is the case in all walks of life, it doesnt necessarily mean you get the best in all cases mind you, taps nose, wink wink, jobs for the boys etc, but yes I'd partly agree. There was a time when I wasnt just about the money either. As an aside Senedd backbenchers get in excess of 70K per annum, which isnt a bad screw.

It’s a hard one to win people over with because as you say that’s a very good wage. However, if you want someone qualified to run health, education etc then I’m not sure that’s the type of salary that would attract many with the experience you’d want.

Definitely no guarantees though. I though increasing pay and making referees full time would help increase the standard…

 

[Jack2jack]

It’s a hard one to win people over with because as you say that’s a very good wage. However, if you want someone qualified to run health, education etc then I’m not sure that’s the type of salary that would attract many with the experience you’d want.

Definitely no guarantees though. I though increasing pay and making referees full time would help increase the standard…

Innit just. I think senior members are on north of 90K, last time I looked.

 

[Cooperman]

I hear what you are saying Frankie, I agree that to attract top people you need to pay top wages, as is the case in all walks of life, it doesnt necessarily mean you get the best in all cases mind you, taps nose, wink wink, jobs for the boys etc, but yes I'd partly agree. There was a time when I wasnt just about the money either. As an aside Senedd backbenchers get in excess of 70K per annum, which isnt a bad screw.

This last sentence backs up my point. Cut down on the numbers and use the funds to pay a salary worthy of someone who really can run a major department.

 

[exiledclaseboy]

Innit just. I think senior members are on north of 90K, last time I looked.

£76k for a backbencher. Ministers etc get more on top of that depending on what job it is. You’re not rich on £76k, far from poor either mind. I agree there’s a strong argument for increasing the wage.

Westminster MPs (backbenchers) get £93k, for comparison.

 

[exiledclaseboy]

This last sentence backs up my point. Cut down on the numbers and use the funds to pay a salary worthy of someone who really can run a major department.

How far would you cut the numbers? There are currently 60, rising to 96 next year.

 

[Jack2jack]

£76k for a backbencher. Ministers etc get more on top of that depending on what job it is. You’re not rich on £76k, far from poor either mind. I agree there’s a strong argument for increasing the wage.

Westminster MPs (backbenchers) get £93k, for comparison.

There's a strong argument for reducing it to, as most of them are shite.
No, but seriously, I assume that London weighting applies for MPs in Westminster, for example.

 

[exiledclaseboy]

There's a strong argument for reducing it to, as most of them are shite.
No, but seriously, I assume that London weighting applies for MPs in Westminster, for example.

Yeah London will definitely be a factor. Interestingly MSPs in Scotland are on £72k.