Latest news with #Westminster-style
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.
Economic Times
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
King Charles to open Canada's parliament amid escalating tensions with the US
King Charles III set to make historic appearance at Canada's Parliament on May 26, 2025 — the first by a reigning monarch since 1957 — amid rising Canada–US tensions and global focus on Canadian sovereignty Synopsis King Charles III will open Canada's Parliament in May 2025, marking the first time a reigning monarch has done so in nearly seven decades. The visit occurs amid rising tensions between Canada and the United States, with President Trump's remarks sparking diplomatic concerns. King Charles III is set to make a historic visit to Canada later this month, attending the State Opening of Parliament in Ottawa on May 26–27, 2025. This landmark event marks the first time a reigning monarch has opened Canada's Parliament in nearly seven decades—since Queen Elizabeth II did so in 1957. ADVERTISEMENT The royal visit comes at a politically sensitive moment, as tensions between Canada and the United States continue to rise. The visit is expected to not only reinforce the symbolic ties between Canada and the British monarchy but also underscore Canada's sovereign identity amid provocative remarks from US President Donald Trump. Also read: All fine with the monarch? King Charles breaks his silence on cancer battle, describes diagnosis as frightening in deeply personal public statement The visit will be King Charles' first to Canada since Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberal government returned to office in the 2025 federal election. Carney's leadership has drawn praise from the monarchy for emphasizing constitutional stability and multilateral State Opening of Parliament, a ceremonial cornerstone of Westminster-style democracy, includes a Speech from the Throne delivered on behalf of the monarch. King Charles' personal presence will add historical gravitas and global visibility to the royal engagement comes amid significant political friction between Canada and its southern neighbor. President Trump's recent offhand comments suggesting the annexation of Canada, coupled with threats of new tariffs on Canadian goods, have rattled policymakers and sparked diplomatic concerns. ADVERTISEMENT Though largely symbolic, King Charles' visit is being interpreted by political analysts as a subtle assertion of Canada's distinct national identity and its historical ties to the British Crown—particularly in a time of geopolitical royal family's presence in Canada often boosts public morale and international attention. Experts suggest this visit will help reaffirm Canada's role on the world stage as a democratic, multicultural monarchy—especially important as global populism and protectionism rise. ADVERTISEMENT Also read: Will King Charles abdicate the throne as he struggles with an undisclosed form of cancer? Here's what experts are saying"At a time when US relations are strained, this visit sends a strong message about Canada's sovereignty and its foundational ties to the Crown," said Dr. Emily Fraser, a constitutional historian at the University of Toronto. ADVERTISEMENT As the world watches King Charles open Canada's 45th Parliament, the timing couldn't be more significant. With the backdrop of US trade disputes and political saber-rattling, this royal visit is more than ceremonial—it's a reminder of Canada's enduring identity, both domestically and on the global stage. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) (Catch all the US News, UK News, Canada News, International Breaking News Events, and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily International News Updates. NEXT STORY
National Post
30-04-2025
- Politics
- National Post
Colby Cosh: Craving stability, Canadians elected a perilously unstable government
I think we have to admit from time to time that Westminster-style parliamentary democracy can have a schizoid quality. Canadians voted in a general election last night amidst an atmosphere of looming dread and economic panic. We were obviously desperate for safety and stability: voters of the left-wing luxury-beliefs parties turned against their leaders, and toward Mark Carney, with the savagery and single-mindedness of Cossacks having a pogrom. (Sympathy for federal New Democrats isn't a natural impulse for me, but hoo boy. Some of those riding totals, man.) Article content Article content Article content But safety and stability aren't on the ballot in their own right, and the result of our collective desire for these things, as often happens, is a House of Commons that offers instability and uncertainty. The Liberals have fallen just short of a majority in their own right, and are led by a man who has not yet felt the caress of a parliamentary pew. He articulates a grand vision of Canada which promises everything to everyone, while guaranteeing fast economic growth: this would be surely be hard enough with a Commons majority, even if you believe he has the right recipe tucked away in his desk. Article content Article content Which I don't, but, Lord, let me be wrong. Carney enjoys awesome, even frightening power within his own party, and the opposition on his left flank is seven-eighths dead, but he will have to bargain for legislation with lower beings, establish actual policy priorities and assemble a cabinet. The newspapers will be filled with guesswork about what this might look like, and reporters will be snatching at the smallest micro-hints. Article content The Conservative opposition is now bound to have a difficult year, with their leader inexplicably, inexcusably ejected from the Commons. Dedicated haters of Pierre Poilievre won't find anything at all inexplicable about the Carleton disaster, but there will need to be a proper autopsy. Especially since Poilievre's party gathered more vote share nationally than any right-wing party — or combination thereof! — has achieved since the days of Mulroney.
National Post
29-04-2025
- Politics
- National Post
What does it mean for the NDP to lose official party status in Parliament?
Article content With the votes still being tabulated on Tuesday, it seems likely that the New Democratic Party, which had entered the election race with 24 seats in Parliament, will emerge with only seven. This would result in the NDP losing official party status. But what does that mean? Article content Article content What is official party status? Article content In addition to the governing party and the official opposition, many Westminster-style parliaments (including Canada's) recognize additional parties. Article content Article content In 1963, with three of the four previous elections having resulted in minority governments, the government amended the Senate and House of Commons Act to provide an additional annual allowance to party leaders other than the prime minister and leader of the opposition. Party leaders were defined as Members of Parliament who led a party with a 'recognized membership of 12 or more persons in the House of Commons.' Thus, an official party needs at least that many sitting members in Parliament. Article content Article content Article content He adds: 'The NDP didn't have a lot of time to develop a quote-unquote war chest for this election, and now they're going to have to continue more or less with all the exact same struggles that they've been dealing with, and yet with considerably less, actually virtually no support from Parliament for their party operations.' Article content Article content The relevant information regarding official party perks is spelled out in a document called Members' Allowances and Services Manual, published by the House of Commons, but it's not easy to navigate. To begin with, the term 'official party' only appears twice in the manual's 343 pages, when it refers to termination of national caucus research offices, 'in the event that the Member's party loses its official party status.' Article content 'What they mean by official party is spelled out in different language,' says Cochrane. 'The term that is used here for the most part is 'recognized party,' but that's what is meant by official party. And a recognized party starts at 12 members.'
Calgary Herald
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
What does it mean for the NDP to lose official party status in Parliament?
Article content With the votes still being tabulated on Tuesday, it seems likely that the New Democratic Party, which had entered the election race with 24 seats in Parliament, will emerge with only seven. This would result in the NDP losing official party status. But what does that mean? Article content What is official party status? Article content In addition to the governing party and the official opposition, many Westminster-style parliaments (including Canada's) recognize additional parties. Article content Article content In 1963, with three of the four previous elections having resulted in minority governments, the government amended the Senate and House of Commons Act to provide an additional annual allowance to party leaders other than the prime minister and leader of the opposition. Party leaders were defined as Members of Parliament who led a party with a 'recognized membership of 12 or more persons in the House of Commons.' Thus, an official party needs at least that many sitting members in Parliament. Article content Article content Christopher Cochrane, an associate professor of political science at the University of Toronto, tells National Post: 'The main thing is it means a significant loss of parliamentary funds for the party. It's things like support for having a research office for the party, staff support that they get based on party size, even to smaller things like phone plans for staffers (and) support for a party office.' Article content Article content He adds: 'The NDP didn't have a lot of time to develop a quote-unquote war chest for this election, and now they're going to have to continue more or less with all the exact same struggles that they've been dealing with, and yet with considerably less, actually virtually no support from Parliament for their party operations.' Article content Article content The relevant information regarding official party perks is spelled out in a document called Members' Allowances and Services Manual, published by the House of Commons, but it's not easy to navigate. To begin with, the term 'official party' only appears twice in the manual's 343 pages, when it refers to termination of national caucus research offices, 'in the event that the Member's party loses its official party status.'
