Senedd Election 2026

[exiledclaseboy]

A Reform government in Westminster would be the catalyst I would think.

But then they’d be in charge and benefiting from it so I doubt they’d be up for biting the hand that fed them. The exact reason as to why neither Labour nor the Tories have changed it for the last 150 years. The catalyst will be when a party wins a plurality of votes by some margin but fails to be able to form a government. With the new fractured politics UK wide that is now much more likely. I’d be interested to see how today’s vote percentages in wales would have translated to seats under FPTP.

 

[cockett_jack]

Well yes. It would have to. Imagine a result where a party has 400 out of 650 seats in the legislature on 33% of the vote. What an affront to democracy that would be. Hang on, you don’t have to imagine it. It happened on 4 July 2024.

You have said it has to but then just presented an example of indirect proportion election results. You haven’t really answered the question. Don’t get me wrong, I have always hated FPTP, I have moved around the UK and always lived in constituencies where my vote has never felt like mattering given that system. Let’s have direct proportionate democracy but how would it work on an executive day to day basis?

 

[LeonWasTheDogs]

Explain to me on devolved issues where Labour has had its hands tied.

On the issues that aren’t devolved of course, which are fundamental. Funding principle which is tied to UK performance and economic rules, on the lack of borrowing capacity, austerity impacts on funding, Brexit, etc. All hamstring us in a way that a nation state wouldn’t be. We do get to choose to offer free prescription though, so really pushing those radical policy boundaries. There’s no point expecting large changes under the current political environment - we duffer the mistakes of Westminster and have limited options to make our own way.

Of course, we could benefit from Westminster (e.g. jobs for nuclear power in Anglesey), but those opportunities have been few and far between for well over a decade and are still at the whim of Westminster. We don’t get to choose.

 

[exiledclaseboy]

I’m

You have said it has to but then just presented an example of indirect proportion election results. You haven’t really answered the question. Don’t get me wrong, I have always hated FPTP, I have moved around the UK and always lived in constituencies where my vote has never felt like mattering given that system. Let’s have direct proportionate democracy but how would it work on an executive day to day basis?

Of course it would work. It works in scores of mature democracies worldwide. I’ve been an advocate of PR for years so we’re agreeing. Not sure why you’re trying to argue about it.

 

[JustJack]

In football terms thats a 90th minute goal to win 1-0 away from home

Dont like how many seats Reform got but thats their moment come and gone now

Until they rebrand again under a new mask in 4 years time

 

[Smurph]

Enjoyed watching the coverage today, the results coming through was interesting, much better than going to bed and waking up to see the result.

Particularly enjoyed our new first minister speaking Welsh, great to see the language come alive throughout the day with the attention of the UK on us.

Cymru am byth

 

[cockett_jack]

I’m

Of course it would work. It works in scores of mature democracies worldwide. I’ve been an advocate of PR for years so we’re agreeing. Not sure why you’re trying to argue about it.

We are agreeing and I’m not ‘arguing’ I’m just cognisant of the examples where it doesn’t work so was interested in your view. Wasn’t it Belgium that has PR and became perpetually hung (as an actress said to a bishop) not long ago because of it?

 

[exiledclaseboy]

We are agreeing and I’m not ‘arguing’ I’m just cognisant of the examples where it doesn’t work so was interested in your view. Wasn’t it Belgium that has PR and became perpetually hung (as an actress said to a bishop) not long ago because of it?

Is Belgium failing in any way because of being apparently perpetually hung? Ooerr. I’ve been there many times. Seems to be functioning well enough to me. Look I get your point but if, as you say you are, you’re an advocate of PR then that has to come with an acceptance that majority government is going to be very, vary rare unless one party wins more than 50% of the vote. And even with only two main parties that hasn’t happened in the UK in my lifetime and I don’t think in many lifetimes before that.

 

[LeonWasTheDogs]

Was great meeting you.

PC have fallen short of a majority so wonder what happens next, will Welsh Labour marry up? Unlikely I suppose. This must be the end of Starmer Shirley? Not sure how he can survive this

Based on his ‘thanks’ to Elenud Morgan, he’s completely unaware that him and his government are a problem. They’re fantastically deluded and out of synch with the mood music. Quite amazing really and I say that with no axe to grind for any of them. Just sitting here eating popcorn while these historic events for Wales have unfolded through the afternoon.

 

[J_B]

But then they’d be in charge and benefiting from it so I doubt they’d be up for biting the hand that fed them. The exact reason as to why neither Labour nor the Tories have changed it for the last 150 years. The catalyst will be when a party wins a plurality of votes by some margin but fails to be able to form a government. With the new fractured politics UK wide that is now much more likely. I’d be interested to see how today’s vote percentages in wales would have translated to seats under FPTP.

I was referring to it being the catalyst for a surge in support for independence in Scotland initially and then Wales later.
If Reform won very big in England and had very few if any MPs north of the border they may even consider Scotland as a lost cause and be happy to let it go.

 

[exiledclaseboy]

I

I was referring to it being the catalyst for a surge in support for independence in Scotland initially and then Wales later.
If Reform won very big in England and had very few if any MPs north of the border they may even consider Scotland as a lost cause and be happy to let it go.

Oh right. I was in FPTP rant mode. My bad.

 

[rockinj]

On the issues that aren’t devolved of course, which are fundamental. Funding principle which is tied to UK performance and economic rules, on the lack of borrowing capacity, austerity impacts on funding, Brexit, etc. All hamstring us in a way that a nation state wouldn’t be. We do get to choose to offer free prescription though, so really pushing those radical policy boundaries. There’s no point expecting large changes under the current political environment - we duffer the mistakes of Westminster and have limited options to make our own way.

Of course, we could benefit from Westminster (e.g. jobs for nuclear power in Anglesey), but those opportunities have been few and far between for well over a decade and are still at the whim of Westminster. We don’t get to choose.

I think we’re back to “more money” needed again. Which is a cop out.

The free prescription thing is inconsequential compared to the shocking performance overall. Personally I’d rather pay and that income stream ploughed back into the system. For those that can’t yes free.

Bottom line is senedd devolved performance is poor across the board. It’s not opinion it’s counting.

 

[cockett_jack]

Is Belgium failing in any way because of being apparently perpetually hung? Ooerr. I’ve been there many times. Seems to be functioning well enough to me. Look I get your point but if, as you say you are, you’re an advocate of PR then that has to come with an acceptance that majority government is going to be very, vary rare unless one party wins more than 50% of the vote. And even with only two main parties that hasn’t happened in the UK in my lifetime and I don’t think in many lifetimes before that.

I suppose I am just very cynical about how it would play out here. Labour have a stonking majority and it hasn’t played out well for them. Things have been so dire for them and that’s with such an exceptional majority. People across the world acknowledge and sometimes revere how Parliament is a bit of a free for all slagging match but is that kind of the problem here; British politics as structured is not conducive to collaboration, it’s very much ‘us versus you’. Times are changing though and it seems as the two party system is dying big time

 

[Frankie Burrows Cap]

I was referring to it being the catalyst for a surge in support for independence in Scotland initially and then Wales later.
If Reform won very big in England and had very few if any MPs north of the border they may even consider Scotland as a lost cause and be happy to let it go.

Interesting that they couldn’t get over the line in any of the 73 constituencies in Scotland today, when all 5 other parties managed it at least twice.

I’d imagine it’s unlikely they’d make a major breakthrough in a FPTP general election unless they did a deal with one or more other parties in some areas.

 

[rockinj]

To be fair to ECB his one constant has been changing voting system.

I do agree with a change even if that’s imperfect as well, I think it would add some excitement to politics again.

The best chance of a change is Labour not getting overall majority but being largest party at next election.