AN MS HAS hit out at the Welsh Government's "push" for a mandatory 50/50 gender balance in the Senedd adding that "the privilege of representing my constituency shouldn't be jeopardised for what I have in my trousers".

Gareth Davies, MS for Vale of Clwyd, said he fully "understands" and "appreciates" the "fantastic" role that women play in the workplace and in public service sector.

However, he feels individuals should be elected on merit and not based on their gender.

Proposed changes, as part of the Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill, introduced on March 11, would place new responsibilities on political parties putting forward more than one candidate to ensure: 

  • Women make up at least half of their election candidates for each constituency.

  • A woman is placed at the top of at least half of their constituency candidate lists.

  • Each candidate on a list who is not a woman is followed by a woman.

Mr Davies said: "I'm very concerned about the Welsh Government's direction in making provision for closed-list and gender-based voting systems in Wales.

"The Welsh Government are doing this against the advice of experts in Senedd committees and the legal advice of the Presiding Officer (Llywydd) which is both undemocratic and against the wishes of both the people of Wales, and the very institution (Senedd) which is supposed to represent this country."

"As a local male MS who was born in St Asaph and have lived in the constituency all my life, with a professional background in the NHS of 11 years which is largely a women orientated organisation, I can fully understand and appreciate the fantastic role that women play in the workplace and in public services which is achieved at an organic level.

"But when such gender-based differences come in at an orchestrated level that is undemocratic, which the Welsh Government are pursuing , that's where I take exception.

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"I was selected by members of the Vale of Clwyd Conservative Association in 2018 to be their Senedd candidate based on my individual plan for the local area and the merit and respect I had gained from standing and winning in a nearly impossible Town and County Council seat in Prestatyn in 2017 through sheer determination to serve my local area, not because of my gender.

"I have retained that hard working, industrious school of thought throughout my political career into the Senedd which has gained me widespread respect from many people in the local area who still see me as a breath of fresh air, even to the point where some people say they'd be lost without me in regard to the style and way I address public life that best represents the area I have always lived in.

"Nothing what I have achieved in politics has been because of my gender, it's because I've worked hard and been prepared to go places other people wouldn't dream of going, which gets me into trouble at times, but also soothes many people in the local area who don't feel they've had a real voice for Vale of Clwyd in the Senedd for many years, which I feel I provide given that I've always lived in the area, and I know how people think and tick in communities in the constituency.

"But to have that privilege jeopardised for what I have in my trousers is an insult to the people of the local area and across Wales who have the democratic right to boot me out if they don't like me in the current open and democratic system that we currently have.

"The proposed closed-list and gender-based system is undemocratic, sexist, illegal and if the Welsh Government are so convinced the people of Wales want it.

"I'd like to Welsh Government to put it to a referendum and to let the public decide."

Senedd reform is a Welsh Government Programme. The work is being carried out in collaboration with Plaid Cymru as part of the Co-operation Agreement.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “The Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill aims to create a more effective Senedd by being more representative of Wales.

"Having a Senedd which better reflects the make-up of Wales is good for politics, good for representation and good for policy making.”

The Bill, along with The Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill, are now undergoing separate processes of scrutiny by MS's.

MS's will vote to decide whether to support the two Bills.

If each Bill is passed, it is anticipated that the changes will take effect from the 2026 Senedd elections.