The Senedd Election 2026

[Cooperman]

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

The MP to electorate ratio is something like 1 to 70,000. With 96 Senedd members and a round number of two million Welsh voters we’ve got close to 1:20,000, so a maximum of 40 but remaining large enough to ensure an effective review of proposed bills.

 

[Cooperman]

To add, if the numbers involved are not influencing the max salary then my comment is irrelevant. However I will still stand by the point that the role deserves a higher salary when departmental responsibility is involved.

 

[exiledclaseboy]

The MP to electorate ratio is something like 1 to 70,000. With 96 Senedd members and a round number of two million Welsh voters we’ve got close to 1:20,000, so a maximum of 40 but remaining large enough to ensure an effective review of proposed bills.

There are 14 ministerial posts so with 40 members the governing party would likely need 20 but given the history of Senedd elections that is very unlikely. So most of the governing party in the legislature would be part of the executive and on the government payroll. 40 is too few. The Tynwald on the Isle of Man has 35 members.

 

[Niigata Jack]

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.

It's the same nationwide. Starmer and his crew have been a disaster so far and sadly with no sign of them getting better.
Drakeford and his crew have been the same, nothing exists outside of the Senedd and Cardiff.

 

[Niigata Jack]

£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.

Depends on what they bring to the table and on that basis £2.50 an hour is to much.