2016 marks the tenth anniversary of the creation of the Senedd, meaning senate or parliament in Welsh. The building itself is one of the most environmentally friendly parliaments in the world, and it cost nearly 70 million pounds to create.
In September of 1997, Wales came out and voted in favour of having a separate Welsh National Assembly in the Welsh devolution referendum. The next year, the Government of Wales act was implemented by Parliament, mandating the creation of a devolved Welsh government. A number of different locations, including Mold, were considered as locations before settling on the nation’s capital, Cardiff. Nine years later, the Senedd, was finally opened in Cardiff Bay on Saint David’s Day 2006 by the Queen.
The Senedd has 60 seats which represent different constituencies in Wales. It has historically been in Labour control, currently they make up up the largest group, followed by Plaid Cymru, the Liberal Democrats and then the Conservatives.
It has devolved power, meaning that it can pass measures on areas that are in Wales’ control. It’s a system that’s somewhat to similar to that of Scotland, although Wales has less power, technically speaking. Devolved Welsh issues currently include education, Welsh language, health and local government, along with other topics. The devolved areas subjects at hand are widely contested, with some saying that Wales should be able to have more control than it currently does.
However, the creation of the Senedd has had real effects on people in Wales. Unlike England, Wales can access free prescriptions. The Senedd also blocked the tuition fee hike in 2010, and offers discounts for Welsh students to study in Wales.
May 2016 marks elections for the Senedd. With Jeremy Corbyn as the head of the Labour party, it could mark a dramatic shift in the direction that the Senedd – and therefore Wales – takes. There are murmurs that UKIP may gain one or two seats. Whatever your opinion on the Senedd, it has always been a hotly contested subject in Wales and will continue to do so.
YASMIN BEGUM