The National Assembly for Wales is set to change its name to the Welsh Parliament after proposals were backed in a consultation.
Almost 3,000 people responded to a public consultation by the Assembly Commission on the issue, which ran between December 8, 2016 and March 3.
Of 2,821 responses from across Wales, 61% agreed that the Assembly should change its name, with 73% deciding on Welsh Parliament/Senedd Cymru. Meanwhile, 60% of respondents believed that the Assembly’s role was not understood well.
Assembly Members unanimously backed the proposal last July, which would also see their titles changed to Welsh Parliament Members (WPM).
Legislation to change the name is expected before the next Assembly elections, in 2021.
The Llywydd of the National Assembly for Wales, Elin Jones AM, said:
“People of all ages, regions and backgrounds across Wales have taken time to present us with their views and I am grateful to everyone who took the time to share their opinions with us.
“The change will I hope play a part in ensuring that more people more fully understand the powers of the Assembly and the role it plays in their lives. Our role today is as a full parliamentary body, with the power to pass laws and agree taxes, and we must continue to work hard to inspire the confidence, trust and pride in the people we serve.
“A change of name alone will not do that, but it is part of a wider package of reforms that I believe will play an important role in improving understanding of our national democratic legislature. The Commission intends to publish the legislation to give effect to those reforms next year.”
The Wales Act 2017 allowed the Assembly to implement a name change, and also includes a number of reforms including disqualification of members, electoral administration, and the design of the committee system.
Assembly Commissioner with responsibility for budget and governance, Suzy Davies AM, said:
“We recognise that some people who responded to the consultation were concerned about the potential costs that any name change may cause. I want to reassure them that we do not intend to rebrand completely or waste resources by rushing to make the change.
“We will legislate in the near future but, until then, the institution will continue to be known officially by its current statutory name, the National Assembly for Wales, in order to avoid confusion and to minimise cost and disruption.”
I agree that the Welsh Assembly should change it’s name, how about – The Labour Cosy Club beside the Bay, let’s face it no other party will ever hold the seat of power inside this building.
I agree, Wales must be the only country within the UK with an autocratic goverment. When will people learn there is other political parties out there. The voter will always vote Labour and will always moan that they dont, do anything its a vicious circle.
Another waste of money, in a time where we should be saving money.
This monstrosity, call it whatever you will, was established by referendum. In this referendum the vote was 53.3% against 49.7%. There is more – only 50.22% turned out to vote. So out of a total electorate of 2,222,533 possible votes only 559,419 people, or 25% of the electorate actually voted for the establishment of the Welsh Assembly.
Contrast this with the continuous undermining of the, far more convincing, vote to leave the EU by remoaners in nearly every party . Perhaps rather than spend more money on this project it would be a good idea, 20 years on, to hold a fresh referendum to discover if the Welsh people actually wants the Cardiff bay talking shop? The reason this won’t happen is not because such a ballot is not justified, democratically, it is because the people who are in charge are making very nice careers in this Assembly.
It would be interesting to see the result of such a ballot – but as you say,it will never happen.
Yes the “politicians” there have nice cosy careers – why do you think Leanne Wood chose not to stand as a candidate in her constituency.
I actually flattered the voters for the ‘Assembly’ with an incorrect figure. The real percentage in the 1997 referendum was a mere 50.3%, not as I wrote “53.3%”. Isn’t it strange that this vote is considered a ‘done deal’ that nobody has right to question?
It should have been called Senedd Cymru from the start. That would have saved money being spent on a name change now.
Yes, should have stuck with one name, perhaps “Ty Cachu Cymru” would be fitting.
What an utterly childish response.