Skip to main content

Birkbeck academics help to shape the parliamentary future of Wales

Professors Sarah Childs and Rosie Campbell were among an independent group of parliamentary experts who made recommendations for the future of the National Assembly for Wales.

Two Birkbeck academics have contributed to a report that makes a number of recommendations to ensure the National Assembly for Wales remains a powerful institution, capable of ensuring the Welsh Government delivers its promises.

Professor of Politics and Gender, Dr Sarah Childs and Rosie Campbell, Professor of Politics, were joint members of the Expert Panel on Assembly Electoral Reform, which was appointed at the beginning of this year to analyse the number of members the Assembly needs, the electoral process and the minimum voting age for Assembly elections.

The Assembly, established in 1999, claims responsibility for four key roles; representing Wales and its people, making laws for Wales, agreeing Welsh taxes and holding the Welsh Government to account.

The Panel recommended that the Assembly elected between 20 and 30 additional Assembly Members (AM) alongside the existing 60, through a more diversity-focused, proportional electoral system with accountability to electors. It also recommended lowering the minimum voting age for National Assembly elections to include 16 and 17-year-olds.

Professor Childs said: “It is absolutely necessary that the capacity of The National Assembly its responsibilities, so that it can effectively hold the Welsh Government to account and deliver for the people and communities of Wales.”

The professor’s expertise on gender equality in politics played a key part of the assessment, with recommendations made for a gender quota to be integrated into the Assembly’s electoral arrangements and for procedures to be changed to allow transparent job share arrangements to remove barriers for those with disabilities or caring responsibilities.

Professor Childs said: “With these recommendations taken into account, the Assembly’s world-leading reputation on gender representation can be safeguarded and its electoral arrangements should encourage and deliver greater diversity among AMs.”

Professor Laura McAllister of the Wales Governance Centre, Cardiff University and Chair of the Expert Panel on Assembly Electoral Reform said: “In 1999, AMs had very little scope to affect the daily lives of people in Wales. Today, they are responsible for a budget of £15 billion, they make the law in Wales in a host of important areas such as health and education, and they can change the taxes we pay. 

“Calling for more politicians is unpopular, but we have to report as we see the evidence. The Panel believes that, as its powers increase, the Assembly cannot continue as it is without risking its ability to deliver effectively for the people of Wales.”

The changes recommended by the Panel will require the Assembly to pass a bill setting out the details of the changes. 

Further Information

More news about: