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2026 Senedd Election: Why it Matters for Single Parents in Wales
Posted 24 April 2026
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.
Plaid Cymru
- Introduce a universal childcare offer for children aged 9 months to 4 years, building up to 20 hours a week.
- Take action to reduce child poverty, including expanding childcare, widening access to free school meals, and introducing targeted financial support for low-income households.
- Reduce NHS waiting times and improve access to healthcare for all.
- Support the Welsh economy by backing businesses and creating employment opportunities.
Read their manifesto here.
Reform UK
- Propose a 1p cut to all rates of Welsh income tax across the board.
- Reduce overall public spending, including the size of parts of the Welsh Government and public sector administration.
- Commit to reforming or removing certain devolved policies and programmes, with a focus on cutting regulatory and administrative costs.
- Support major road infrastructure investment, including an M4 relief road and upgrades to the A55.
Read their manifesto here.
Welsh Conservatives
- Propose a 1p cut to the basic rate of Welsh income tax and cap council tax rises at 5%.
- Extend free childcare to cover children aged 9 months to 4 years.
- Propose a choice for a working parent to nominate a grandparent to receive a Grandparent Childcare Payment of up to £4,800 per year to care for their grandchildren.
- Improve the NHS, including reducing waiting times and improving GP access.
Read their manifesto here.
The Wales Green Party
- Introduce universal childcare for children aged nine months to four years, building up to 20 hours a week.
- Replace council tax with a land value tax.
- Freeze rents and increase the supply of social and affordable housing, including building 60,000 social homes over 10 years.
- Improve the NHS by addressing mental health support and reducing pressure on services, including ending corridor care.
Read their manifesto here.
Welsh Labour
- Tackle the cost of living through cheaper transport, lower energy bills and expanded childcare support.
- Invest in the NHS, including new hospitals, improved mental health services and a focus on women’s health.
- Support skills and employment through a lifelong retraining guarantee to help people access better work opportunities.
- Improve living standards by addressing homelessness, raising the lowest pay and improving school standards.
Read their manifesto here.
Welsh Liberal Democrats
- Expand access to free, universal childcare from nine months to four years old, building up to 30 hours a week, to support parents returning to work and increase childcare choices.
- Invest in the NHS and social care, including support for unpaid carers and reducing pressure on hospital services.
- Reform business rates and support employment to help people access and stay in work.
- Protect public health and the environment by improving water quality and cleaning up rivers and seas.
Read their manifesto here.
Are you a single parent in Wales? Download our bilingual toolkit
We’ve created a bilingual toolkit for single parents in Wales to support you in voting and engaging with this upcoming election.
Don’t miss this important opportunity to help shape the future of Wales and make sure single parents’ voices are heard and represented.
Not living in Wales? Share the toolkit with a single parent family or friend who does!