Luned Hunter, Campaigns Manager at Gingerbread, outlines what’s changing in the upcoming Welsh Election and why it’s important for single parents to make their voices heard.
Wales is set to see a historic election on the 7th of May, driven by a new electoral system and a potential shift in the political landscape.
For single parents across Wales, this is a crucial opportunity to have your voice heard. By voting, you can help choose representatives who will make decisions on key devolved areas such as childcare, health, education, transport and housing – all of which have a direct impact on the lives of single-parent families.
What is the Senedd?
Previously known as the National Assembly of Wales from 1999 to 2020, the Senedd, also known as the Welsh Parliament, is the democratically elected body that represents the interests of Wales and its people.
Decisions are made in the Senedd on all devolved areas that shape life across Wales.
What’s changing in this election?
For the first time, voters will choose a political party or an independent candidate rather than an individual constituency candidate. The new system is called a ‘closed proportional list system.’
We’ll also see new constituencies across Wales as the electoral map is being redrawn. Wales will now be divided into 16 larger constituencies, each electing 6 Members of the Senedd. Overall, the number of Members will increase from 60 to 96, meaning more representatives for Wales’ communities and regions.
This new system is designed to make representation fairer as seats in the Senedd will be allocated based on each party’s share of the vote in each region, a system already used widely across Europe, in countries like Spain and Norway.
How voting in the Senedd Election can help drive change for single parents.
While many of the policy changes we campaign for at Gingerbread relate to reserved issues decided at Westminster, such as reform of the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) and the Universal Credit system, the Senedd still plays a vital role in shaping the services in Wales that significantly impact single-parent families, including access to childcare and healthcare services.
We often hear from single parents that small changes in childcare costs or access to appointments can make a big difference to their lives.
If you want to see change to the lives of single-parent families across Wales, voting in this election is one way of making your voice heard. By voting, you can help ensure that the needs of single-parent families are recognised and acted upon.
What are the main parties in Wales promising ahead of the election?
Ahead of the election, political parties publish manifestos setting out their policy priorities. These documents cover a wide range of topics relating to devolved responsibilities in Wales.
Below is a summary of policy areas that appear across party manifestos and are relevant to issues affecting single-parent families in Wales.
