Latest news with #NationalAssemblyforWales
ITV News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
Senedd election 2026: The major changes coming in and why we're electing more politicians
It's a year to go until the next Senedd election, taking place on 7 May, 2026. Wales will go to the polls voting for their Senedd representatives, but there are major changes coming in, from the number of Senedd Members (MSs), the constituencies they represent, and how votes will be cast. So, what do these changes involve? When is the next Senedd election? The next Senedd election will take place on 7 May, 2026. From next year, a Senedd election will take place every four years instead of five. How many Senedd Members are there? From next year, the number of MSs will increase from 60 to 96. The current total of 60 has been the number of elected politicians in Cardiff Bay since the creation of what was then called the National Assembly for Wales in 1999. More than quarter of a century later, the powers devolved to the Senedd and Welsh Government have grown and its responsibilities look very different. It has direct law-making powers and some tax powers, including over a share of income tax. Supporters of increasing the number of MSs argued that more politicians were needed to scrutinise decisions and actions, while opponents have objected against the cost. Estimates have put the cost of 36 more MSs to as much as £17.8million extra a year, on top of the Senedd's existing budget of £67m. How are constituencies changing? Wales will be divided into 16 constituencies, replacing the 40 it has now. Six MSs will be elected in each of these new constituencies, meaning every voter in Wales will have six MSs representing them. The new constituencies were created by pairing the 32 UK parliamentary constituencies, which were new for the 2024 General Election, into 16 new Senedd constituencies, with the final boundaries being published in March this year. Who is eligible to vote? If you're aged 16 or 17, you were able to vote in the last Senedd election, but that was during the Covid pandemic so this is being seen as the first big election in which young people who are still at school or in training will be able to have a say. How will the new voting system work? A new voting system will come into place for next year's Senedd election. Every registered voter will have one vote to choose one party. There will be no voting for a single candidate like we do for UK General Elections, and no mix of candidate and party as we have for all the previous Welsh elections. Instead we'll be asked to choose a sole party, unless you're voting for an independent candidate. In terms of the number of votes, the previous system where voters had two votes to cast - the first for constituency representatives, and the second for regional MSs - will be no more. The introduction of the D'hondt method The way votes are calculated is also changing. Previously, 40 of the 60 MSs have been elected by the traditional Westminster-style first-past-the-post system, with the other 20 seats representing larger regions. From 2026, MS seats will be allocated using a process known as the D'hondt method, which is said to better reflect the vote share. This is a long-established way of allocating seats based on the vote share. The party with the most votes gets one seat and a calculation is carried out to see which party gets the next seat and so on until all the seats are filled. From 2026, all seats will be chosen this way, with six MSs being elected for each constituency. Full list of Welsh constituencies for 2026 Senedd election These new constituencies are: Bangor Conwy Môn Clwyd Fflint Wrecsam Gwynedd Maldwyn Ceredigion Penfro Sir Gaerfyrddin Gŵyr Abertawe Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd Afan Ogwr Rhondda Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni Sir Fynwy Torfaen Casnewydd Islwyn Caerdydd Penarth Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf Pen-y-bont Morgannwg What are the other changes for the 2026 election? From 2026, every MS candidate must be registered to vote in Wales. As it stands, they are not required to be resident in Wales.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
How do you vote in the Senedd election?
On 7 May 2026 Welsh voters will head to the polls for the next Senedd election. It promises to be the most consequential election to Cardiff Bay since the National Assembly for Wales, as it used to be called, was established in 1999. That is largely because of major reforms to the way the Senedd is elected. Here's a brief guide to the changes. What's changing? At the moment the Welsh Parliament, or Senedd Cymru, is made up of 60 politicians. Forty of those represent an individual constituency. They're elected via the first-past-the-post system, where the candidate with the most votes wins the seat. The remaining 20 Members of the Senedd (MSs) are regional politicians, with five regions represented by four regional MSs each. These members are elected via a proportional system with the number of politicians elected from each party based on the proportion of votes each party gets. At the next election the 40 constituencies and five regions will disappear and Wales will be divided into 16 large constituencies. Each one will be represented by six MSs as the total number of politicians in Cardiff Bay increases from 60 to 96. The first-past-the-post voting system will also be scrapped with all MSs being elected via a proportional system known as D'Hondt. The method uses a mathematical formula to distribute seats based on the proportion of votes won by each party. How will your vote work? In previous elections voters have had two votes. The first vote would be given to a person hoping to be elected as the local MS and the second would be used to back a political party. The second votes would then be totted up and put through the D'Hondt formula to share out the four regional seats in that part of the country. But in 2026 voters will only have one vote, and they will not have the opportunity to support a specific candidate. Instead, they will only be able to pick a party. In each of the 16 constituencies, each party will have a list of ranked candidates. The number of people elected from each party's list will depend on the proportion of votes won by the party. How the parties compile their lists and rank their candidates is a matter for them. Come election day, voters won't be able to pick and choose the individuals they would like to elect. The number of politicians elected to Cardiff Bay is increasing from 60 to 96 [Getty Images] Why is the system changing? The voting system is changing as part of wider reforms pushed through the Senedd by Labour and Plaid Cymru. The idea is that a more proportional system will better reflect a diversity of views. However, critics say the exact system chosen puts too much power in the hands of parties and removes choice from voters. Who can vote and do I have to register? People aged 16 and over in Wales will be eligible to vote. At the moment, voters must register to vote themselves. Councils must then contact households to check whether the existing electoral register is accurate, identify new voters, and invite residents to apply to be on the register. However, a new law passed by the Senedd last year could see automatic registration rolled out ahead of the election. Pilot schemes are already underway in certain parts of Wales. Automatic registration would mean that people would no longer have to register themselves to vote.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Queen Camilla shows how to recycle your wedding dress and wear it anew
Rewearing a wedding ensemble is an idea most of us could only dream of. Shifting trends – not to mention the diminishing likelihood of maintaining one's bridal physique – mean that wedding dresses and suits are often fated to remain hanging at the back of a wardrobe or confined to a box, little more than a reminder of a happy day saved for posterity. Not so for The Queen, who arrived at the Italian Parliament rewearing the dress she wore for her civil ceremony to King Charles at the Guildhall in Windsor in 2005. The ensemble featured a cream silk chiffon gown adorned with rows of woven discs and a scalloped neckline, paired with a silk basket weave coat. Finishing the look was a wide-brimmed hat by Philip Treacy, which featured ivory lace and feathers. As she and Charles mark their 20th wedding anniversary in Rome, Camilla returned to the first of two looks she wore on the momentous day – the second was a floor-length embroidered blue and gold coat worn over a chiffon dress. Both were designed by London-based designers Antonia Robinson and Anna Valentine, who were then working under the name Robinson Valentine. It's not the first time the Queen has reworn the Guildhall gown. In 2007, a mere two years after the wedding, she broke with tradition by wearing it again for the opening of the National Assembly for Wales. This time around, the silk chiffon dress has been modified by Anna Valentine for the royal rewear, with additional embroidery from Beth Somerville from the King's Foundation. The discs from the original have been replaced by visible seams that run vertically down the gown, which give a flattering effect. Of course, the British Royals are no strangers to rewearing winning ensembles. There could be no better poster girl for the power of outfit repetition than the Princess of Wales, who is rightfully admired for her ability to prove the staying power of everything from Zara dresses to Alexander McQueen coats. King Charles himself is known for mending and recycling his clothes, some of which he has had for decades (recall the conspicuously repaired grey double-breasted suit he donned in 2013). But to rewear a wedding dress, not once but twice, is rather more daring. One must applaud Camilla's commitment to saving a treasured piece from dust-gathering retirement, not least because it's impressive that she can still pull it off 20 years on. Another notable case for wearing your wedding dress more than once comes courtesy of Keira Knightley. The actor first wore the bespoke Chanel tulle gown she eventually wore for her 2013 wedding to James Righton to a pre-BAFTA bash in 2008. Then there was Emma Stone, who gave new life to the Louis Vuitton mini dress specially designed for her wedding after-party in 2020, rewearing it to none other than the Met Gala in 2022. Mere mortals are getting in on the act too, with rewearing and adapting wedding dresses becoming increasingly popular. 'Your wedding outfit doesn't have to live in a box forever,' says Daisy Harvey, founder of upcycling app Loom, which is soon launching a collaboration with The Fall Bride. 'There are so many different ways you can rewear or update your wedding dress. We've helped brides transform theirs through dyeing, embroidery, shortening the length or even turning it into something entirely new' Bridal styling consultant Rosie Boydell-Wiles, who has transformed her own Vivienne Westwood wedding gown into a more wearable separate corset and skirt, has some advice for those looking to emulate Camilla. 'First, think about what you'll get most use out of – if this is a dress then great, but if a top would be more wearable and the construction allows, this is sometimes a better route,' she says. 'If you're not going to fit into your original dress, adding a lace up corset panel into the back could help. And as the most damaged part of the dress will likely be the hem/train, shortening the dress to a more wearable midi can be another good step.' Whether or not you have a royal engagement coming up, there's clearly a compelling case for wearing your wedding ensemble long after the big day is over. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Queen Camilla shows how to recycle your wedding dress and wear it anew
Rewearing a wedding ensemble is an idea most of us could only dream of. Shifting trends – not to mention the diminishing likelihood of maintaining one's bridal physique – mean that wedding dresses and suits are often fated to remain hanging at the back of a wardrobe or confined to a box, little more than a reminder of a happy day saved for posterity. Not so for The Queen, who arrived at the Italian Parliament rewearing the dress she wore for her civil ceremony to King Charles at the Guildhall in Windsor in 2005. The ensemble featured a cream silk chiffon gown adorned with rows of woven discs and a scalloped neckline, paired with a silk basket weave coat. Finishing the look was a wide-brimmed hat by Philip Treacy, which featured ivory lace and feathers. As she and Charles mark their 20th wedding anniversary in Rome, Camilla returned to the first of two looks she wore on the momentous day – the second was a floor-length embroidered blue and gold coat worn over a chiffon dress. Both were designed by London-based designers Antonia Robinson and Anna Valentine, who were then working under the name Robinson Valentine. It's not the first time the Queen has reworn the Guildhall gown. In 2007, a mere two years after the wedding, she broke with tradition by wearing it again for the opening of the National Assembly for Wales. This time around, the silk chiffon dress has been modified by Anna Valentine for the royal rewear, with additional embroidery from Beth Somerville from the King's Foundation. The discs from the original have been replaced by visible seams that run vertically down the gown, which give a flattering effect. Of course, the British Royals are no strangers to rewearing winning ensembles. There could be no better poster girl for the power of outfit repetition than the Princess of Wales, who is rightfully admired for her ability to prove the staying power of everything from Zara dresses to Alexander McQueen coats. King Charles himself is known for mending and recycling his clothes, some of which he has had for decades (recall the conspicuously repaired grey double-breasted suit he donned in 2013). But to rewear a wedding dress, not once but twice, is rather more daring. One must applaud Camilla's commitment to saving a treasured piece from dust-gathering retirement, not least because it's impressive that she can still pull it off 20 years on. Another notable case for wearing your wedding dress more than once comes courtesy of Keira Knightley. The actor first wore the bespoke Chanel tulle gown she eventually wore for her 2013 wedding to James Righton to a pre-BAFTA bash in 2008. Then there was Emma Stone, who gave new life to the Louis Vuitton mini dress specially designed for her wedding after-party in 2020, rewearing it to none other than the Met Gala in 2022. Mere mortals are getting in on the act too, with rewearing and adapting wedding dresses becoming increasingly popular. 'Your wedding outfit doesn't have to live in a box forever,' says Daisy Harvey, founder of upcycling app Loom, which is soon launching a collaboration with The Fall Bride. 'There are so many different ways you can rewear or update your wedding dress. We've helped brides transform theirs through dyeing, embroidery, shortening the length or even turning it into something entirely new' Bridal styling consultant Rosie Boydell-Wiles, who has transformed her own Vivienne Westwood wedding gown into a more wearable separate corset and skirt, has some advice for those looking to emulate Camilla. 'First, think about what you'll get most use out of – if this is a dress then great, but if a top would be more wearable and the construction allows, this is sometimes a better route,' she says. 'If you're not going to fit into your original dress, adding a lace up corset panel into the back could help. And as the most damaged part of the dress will likely be the hem/train, shortening the dress to a more wearable midi can be another good step.' Whether or not you have a royal engagement coming up, there's clearly a compelling case for wearing your wedding ensemble long after the big day is over.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Biased AI rejected my job applications, says ex-MP
A former cabinet minister who lost his seat at the general election claims he has been automatically rejected for jobs by Artificial Intelligence (AI) software because he does not have a degree. David TC Davies, who was Welsh secretary in Rishi Sunak's Conservative government, has called on employers to rethink the role of AI when recruiting. Many companies routinely use applicant tracking systems to sift and grade CVs, despite concerns they could be filtering out the best candidates. The government has produced guidelines on the use of AI in recruitment, which warns companies: "At all stages there is a risk of unfair bias or discrimination against applicants." TUC: Government failing to protect workers from AI What next for MPs who lost their jobs? - 'I'm not sure what to do' MPs to get help finding a new career if voted out Davies left school at 16 and worked in his family's haulage business before being elected to what was then the National Assembly for Wales in 1999 and later serving 19 years as MP for Monmouth. Finding himself out of work after the general election, he said he applied for several degree-level jobs outside politics only to be rejected instantly. He believes his failure was down to a lack of qualifications that would be acceptable to an automated CV reader. He told the BBC: "Clearly when you submit a CV nobody human looks at them at all – and if you have a slightly odd CV, which I have, then you have no chance." Even when he did make progress, he faced an unusual challenge when one multinational organisation asked for details of his last boss. He wrote on LinkedIn: "In one case I got a little further and received a form with the following questions: "Name of last line manager?' I answered: 'Rishi Sunak'. "Job title of last line manager?' I put: 'Prime Minister of the United Kingdom'. "'Telephone number of line manager?' I have Rishi's number but certainly wasn't going to put it in the box. Result? Rejection!" He joked that the former PM might not have given him a good reference if he had shared his phone number. Davies was one of 175 Tory MPs to lose their seat last year. They were entitled to a loss of office payment if they lost their seat and had been an MP for at least two years – as well as advice on how to look for jobs and write CVs. He is not the only one who initially struggled to find work. The Telegraph reported that another ex-Conservative MP had earned just £575 since the election. Davies said employers may be missing out on diverse talent by using applicant tracking systems which scan CVs and filter out unqualified candidates. One response to his CV suggested he could be suitable for an entry level public affairs job at a low level. "This is not a whinge, it's not about me, it's more for other people," Davies said. "Not everybody has got a conventional CV which sees you working up the management ladder." Davies said the skills needed to drive lorries across Europe for his family business before the days of smartphones and satnavs "required a PhD in common sense" - qualities that were wasted on applicant tracking systems. The ex-minister, who is now working as chief of staff for the Welsh Conservatives in the Welsh Parliament, the Senedd, said the use of AI recruitment software could not be good for companies. "They're going to recruit all the same sort of people – they're going to end up with template people," he added.
