I think the fact that the parties have picked party list as the new PR system says it all: it’s all about the parties rather than the voters. A switch to STV would have sent a signal to the electorate that what mattered was them and not jobs for the factions of the established parties.
It was a lowest common denominator compromise. Nonetheless GMB, USDAW & Community were opposed along with a couple of CLPs. The reasons for choosing closed lists were to avoid requiring preferential voting and to require gender parity in candidate lists via zipping. The Bill to do the later was separated from the main Bill as clearly vulnerable to review by Supreme Court and now seems unlikely to pass at all given the need for a super-majority that no longer exists. I suspect it is still possible for the executive to scupper the whole thing by refusing to appoint boundary commissioners (who still have to decide on the pattern for twinning of seats).
I got final sentence a little wrong. The boundary commissioners would have to be dismissed - and pronto as they are publishing initial proposals at Noon today with their final recommendations (which aren't subject to confirmatory vote in the Senedd) due in December. Repeal is requires the same 2/3 super-majority and I very much doubt the Tories would co-operate.
I think the fact that the parties have picked party list as the new PR system says it all: it’s all about the parties rather than the voters. A switch to STV would have sent a signal to the electorate that what mattered was them and not jobs for the factions of the established parties.
What a mess!
It was a lowest common denominator compromise. Nonetheless GMB, USDAW & Community were opposed along with a couple of CLPs. The reasons for choosing closed lists were to avoid requiring preferential voting and to require gender parity in candidate lists via zipping. The Bill to do the later was separated from the main Bill as clearly vulnerable to review by Supreme Court and now seems unlikely to pass at all given the need for a super-majority that no longer exists. I suspect it is still possible for the executive to scupper the whole thing by refusing to appoint boundary commissioners (who still have to decide on the pattern for twinning of seats).
I got final sentence a little wrong. The boundary commissioners would have to be dismissed - and pronto as they are publishing initial proposals at Noon today with their final recommendations (which aren't subject to confirmatory vote in the Senedd) due in December. Repeal is requires the same 2/3 super-majority and I very much doubt the Tories would co-operate.