When Wales votes in the 2026 Senedd election, it will also vote into being a new kind of Parliament. The Senedd will expand from 60 to 96 Members of the Senedd (MSs), following the passage of the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024. This reform marks the biggest change to Welsh democracy since devolution began in 1999.
Lawmakers passed the Act to confront a long-running problem: the Senedd was too small for the job it faced. MSs struggled to scrutinise complex legislation, oversee public spending and hold ministers to account. Many sat on multiple committees at once, spreading expertise thin. The expansion aims to close that democratic gap.
A new electoral map
The Act does more than add politicians. It rewires how Welsh democracy works.
Wales now has 16 larger constituencies, each electing six MSs through the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system. Voters rank candidates by preference, and seats are allocated proportionally. This replaces the previous mixed system and brings Wales closer to how its voters actually vote.
Proportional representation reshapes power inside the Senedd. It reduces the chances of single-party dominance and encourages political pluralism. It also makes coalition or minority government the norm, not the exception. No single MS can credibly claim to speak alone for a constituency, and no party can expect automatic control.
What a bigger Senedd means in practice
The expansion promises real change in the daily workings of the Senedd. More MSs allow for larger and more specialised committees. Members can focus on fewer policy areas and develop deeper expertise.
This should improve legislative scrutiny. Committees can hold more evidence sessions, question ministers more rigorously and draw more often on external expertise. Bills should face tougher examination before becoming law.
The shift also raises expectations. Organisations seeking to influence Welsh legislation will find more access points, but less tolerance for weak arguments. Evidence, clarity and credibility now matter more than ever.
Lobbying in a plural parliament
The reforms force a strategic rethink for lobbying and stakeholder engagement. Influence no longer flows through a small group of senior figures. It depends on understanding political groups, committee structures and internal party dynamics.
With coalition politics likely, early engagement matters. So does alliance-building across parties. Messages that appeal only to one ideological camp will struggle to gain traction. Broad, pragmatic arguments will travel further.
Change — with continuity
Despite these reforms, key institutions remain in place. The Presiding Officer, or Llywydd, still oversees proceedings and safeguards the Senedd’s independence. Updated Standing Orders now reflect the larger membership and new electoral system, but core parliamentary norms endure.
For those engaging with the Senedd, this continuity matters. Effective influence still depends on understanding procedure, respecting the institution and working within its rules.
A democratic gamble
The decision to expand the Senedd reflects confidence in Welsh democracy. Lawmakers have chosen scrutiny over simplicity and pluralism over control. Whether more politicians deliver better politics remains to be seen. But Wales has made a clear bet: that a stronger Parliament makes for stronger democracy.