(Title Image: National Assembly of Wales)
AMs have voted by 44 to 1 (with 3 abstentions) in favour of allowing the Assembly Commission to introduce legislation which will change the name of the National Assembly, reform disqualification criteria for prospective members and reduce the voting age in Welsh general elections to 16.
The name of the National Assembly is expected to change to “Welsh Parliament” but there is still some disagreement over what its members would be called.
The Llywydd, Elin Jones AM (Plaid, Ceredigion) said any costs associated with a name change would be “kept to a minimum” and that efforts will be made to inform and educate 16-17 year-olds if the law is passed.
However, Jane Hutt AM (Lab, Vale of Glamorgan) and Sian Gwenllian AM (Plaid, Arfon) expressed disappointment that measures to boost the number of women AMs, such as job-sharing, had been rejected.
Lee Waters AM (Lab, Llanelli) also argued that the singular name “Senedd” be used to mark out a “different culture, a different way of doing things, a different sense of purpose”.
