Plans for more gender equal Senedd dropped

The law would have required Welsh political parties to submit lists of candidates including at least 50% women

The Welsh government has dropped plans to force parties to ensure at least 50% of candidates are women.

The plans were originally intended for the 2026 Senedd election, but had already been delayed until 2030.

Ministers say they remain committed to a gender-balanced Parliament and getting more women into politics.

In a statement the social justice secretary Jane Hutt said the government would "focus its full energy in delivering tangible outcomes for the people of Wales."

The plans, proposed when Mark Drakeford was first minister, had already proved controversial with questions over their lawfulness, and whether the Senedd had the power to make the change.

MSs will debate and vote on a motion to withdraw the bill from further consideration on 24 September.

Hutt said that on Tuesday "the first minister will set out her policy and legislative priorities for the remainder of this Senedd term, indicating those areas where the Welsh government will now focus its full energy in delivering tangible outcomes for the people of Wales".

She said: "As a result, we are looking across the government at areas where we can implement our policy and legislative objectives in a more practical and timely way."

The government says it will now "accelerate" new guidance to political parties on diversity and inclusion.

The Llywydd or presiding officer, Elin Jones, had previously cast doubt on whether the Senedd had the power to implement the new law.

It was split from wider plans to expand the Senedd to 96 members, which have now been given Royal Assent.

The Welsh government disagreed with Jones's legal advice.

A committee of MSs had also warned that the plans could have faced a legal challenge which might have "endangered" the 2026 election.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission expressed concern that allowing candidates to self-identify their gender might be "unlawful".

The plans were originally scheduled to be published last November but were delayed at the last minute.

Plaid Cymru called the development “extremely disappointing”, saying that ensuring equal representation was “central to our vision for a more effective and inclusive Parliament”.

Sioned Williams and Heledd Fychan, two of its MSs, said First Minister Eluned Morgan “does not have the support” of party members “to act on radical measures that will make a difference to the lives of the people of Wales”.

The Welsh Conservatives, however, welcomed the plans to drop the quota, which they described as “divisive”.

“The Welsh Conservatives have always favoured candidate selection based on merit and by the voters,” said Darren Millar, Shadow Minister for the Constitution.