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Peredur Owen Griffiths, who represents Plaid Cymru, is one of four regional Senedd Members serving the South Wales East region.
The two big political stories in Wales in the last few weeks have been the results of the local elections and Senedd reform. In terms of the elections, the results did not all go the way Plaid Cymru would have liked.
Having said that, we consolidated our support in some parts of the county borough and we even managed to take some new seats. The important thing is we learn from what we have heard whilst canvassing and the challenge for all new councillors is delivering for our communities.
The new group on Caerphilly County Borough – which will be led by Lindsay Whittle as leader and Charlotte Bishop as deputy leader – will continue to scrutinise the Labour administration every step of the way.
There is a great wealth of experience within the Plaid Cymru group and, collectively, they will ensure that the Labour Cabinet does not get an easy ride over the next five years. Scrutiny on issues like day care provision for disabled adults and overdevelopment in many parts of the county borough will continue.
The plans to expand the Senedd garnered headlines and many column inches from the moment the proposals were unveiled by First Minister Mark Drakeford and Plaid Cymru Leader Adam Price.
The introduction of a more robust Senedd forms a key part of the co-operation agreement between us and Labour which will also see primary school children get free school meals.
Over the past few years, citizens in Wales have lost a fair amount of representation with MEPs being cut following Brexit. Our voice in UK politics is set to diminish further when our quota of MPs is reduced from 40 to 32 under Tory plans to reform constituency boundaries.
The shrinkage of our political muscle alone makes a compelling case for increasing the number of Senedd Members.
When you bring into the equation the need to increase the capability of the Senedd to makes laws and scrutinise the Welsh Government, the case for additional Senedd Members is made stronger. With insufficient scrutiny, you inevitably end up with bad government. It is essential we avoid this if we are to reverse the decline in people’s perceptions of politicians and politics in general.
Furthermore, the Senedd is understaffed in terms of politicians when you compare it to Scotland and Northern Ireland. Scotland has 129 MSPs while Northern Ireland – with a population smaller than Wales by more than a million people – has 90 members sitting in its Assembly.
Wales currently has 60 members, which is way too small for a country that has taken on law-making powers since this figure was set more than 20 years ago.
If the people of Wales are to be served with good governance and have the representation they deserve, then reform is urgently needed.
With the proposals incorporating gender equality to deliver a fairer and more representative Senedd, then the case for Senedd expansion is watertight as far as I am concerned.
The National Assembly for Wales and, following its name change, the Senedd have served devolution well but it is now time to grow and move with the changing face of politics in this country.
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