Senedd reform: do we need more politicians?

Local TV

We’re asking people around Cardiff if they think the expansion of the Senedd to include 96 members from next years election will be a net good for Wales, or if paying an extra 36 politicians wages is a waste of money we don’t have.

Transcript

00:00What are you doing?

00:04Our Senedd controls so many parts of our lives, from the NHS to schools and even the fishing and farming industries.

00:10It all falls under the responsibility of our politicians in Cardiff Bay.

00:13And in 12 months' time, 36 more people will hold that responsibility

00:17as the Senedd undertakes one of the biggest overhauls in Welsh political history

00:21since the Senedd first sat over a quarter of a century ago.

00:25The decision to increase the number of members from the current 60 up to 96 has been controversial

00:30and on the face of it, you can't blame people for asking why we need to be paying 36 more politicians' wages.

00:37People in Cardiff seem to see the positive side, though,

00:40and they say that with more people comes more different voices and perspectives

00:44and they're hopeful the new expanded Senedd will be a force for good in Wales.

00:49I think so, and in a way, I think if one party was to suggest all of the ideas,

00:54perhaps more different parties, a wider variety of different parties,

00:58could come towards a better decision for the population

01:01instead of just going with a party with only a specific certain point of view.

01:06So definitely that increase in variety and just having more people to give an opinion on would be great, to be honest.

01:15Because most people are looking to see change as well, so I think expanding it would have more views

01:21that are represented in the Senedd, which I think is a good thing.

01:25Depends on who they're bringing in within the politicians because, in my opinion,

01:30I basically think that the politicians are very biased on one side.

01:33If you bring in people from different parties so that you can have a fair vote, I think that would make sense.

01:39It's important that we have a lot of different types of opinions.

01:42I think the more people you get involved, I think the more opinions are brought to the table,

01:45the more backgrounds are involved in it.

01:47So I know again, 60, 90, in my opinion, it's not too much of a leap.

01:51It's one third of an increase, but I think the more opinions you have on board,

01:55the more, I think, different things to take into account.

01:57So I think, for me personally, I think if they have the passion to do it and they want to do it,

02:01and they think they can better the place, I think, you know,

02:03it's nice to see fresh faces get involved and do their thing, basically, yeah.

02:07Obviously, it's hard to ignore the additional costs of three dozen politicians' wages

02:11and the cost of physically expanding this building of the Senate itself.

02:15But is it worth it?

02:17Not particularly. I didn't vote for devolution.

02:19And as far as the Senate is concerned, I think you're asking the wrong person.

02:24I'm somewhat biased, to put it that way.

02:26I don't particularly see a great benefit from it.

02:31There are certain things I must admit, transport for Wales Metro, things like that.

02:35I don't necessarily think it's like, oh, we employ more politicians

02:39and we're taking away nurses.

02:40I think the people have the skills, they have the skills and they want to go for it.

02:44I think, don't get me wrong, there's obviously problems with NHS funding and cuts

02:47and, you know, there probably does need to be a few more people injected into the vast side of things.

02:51But I don't think it's a sense of, you know, add more here, take away here.

02:55I don't think it works like that personally.

02:57I don't think it works like that personally.

02:58.

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