Press Release: Campaigners welcome launch of Welsh Government’s Diversity and Inclusion Guidance for Political Parties

Campaigners have welcomed the launch of the Welsh Government’s new Diversity and Inclusion guidance for political parties, a significant step toward ensuring greater representation in Welsh politics. The guidance aims to support political parties in selecting a more diverse pool of candidates, better reflecting the Welsh population and fostering a more inclusive democracy.

The guidance provides practical recommendations to help political parties address barriers to participation, encourage candidates from underrepresented backgrounds, and promote gender balance. The Diverse5050 campaign, made up of Women’s Equality Network (WEN) Wales, the Electoral Reform Society (ERS) Cymru, Ethnic Minorities and Youth Support Team Wales (EYST) and Race Council Cymru, has hailed this initiative as a crucial development in the ongoing effort to make political institutions in Wales more representative.

Following the withdrawal of gender quota legislation in September, there have been growing calls for action to improve diversity in politics as part of the electoral reforms underway for the next election. The guidance is part of a suit of measures to modernise Welsh democracy that were passed last year under the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act and the Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Act. 2026 will see a Senedd expanded from 60 to 96 members, with six members elected in each of the 16 new constituencies via a closed list proportional representation system.

While the new guidance marks a positive step forward, campaigners stress that ongoing commitment from political parties is essential. To achieve meaningful change, parties must actively implement the recommendations and take further steps to support candidates from diverse backgrounds ahead of the next Senedd elections in 2026 and beyond.

WEN Director Victoria Vasey said:

“This guidance is most welcome and is an important step towards ensuring a Senedd in which there are more women and more diverse elected members. This, in turn, means our legislature will be stronger and more effective. It is imperative that political parties act on the guidance to each play their part in making the Senedd of 2026 and beyond a more representative and, moreover, to avoid the real danger of an enlarged Senedd becoming less equal and less diverse.” 

ERS Director Jess Blair said:

“Wales was the first legislature anywhere in the world to achieve equal representation of women in 2003. This was an area where we led not only the UK but also globally, yet in recent years it is disappointing to see that we have slipped back and now fall behind the Scottish Parliament in terms of female representation.  

Equal representation of women should be a basic requirement of Welsh democracy rather than an often-missed aspiration. This is something gender quotas would have enshrined in law, yet the Welsh Government dropped plans to legislate to make this a reality. As the guidance published today is voluntary, the responsibility of ensuring a gender equal and diverse Senedd now falls squarely on the political parties and their selection processes. 

An expanded Senedd after the next election means there is an even greater onus on the political parties to ensure that the Senedd Siambr properly reflects the modern Wales it represents. A gender-equal and diverse Senedd will make better legislation that properly reflects the lived experience of all people in Wales. If political parties don’t grasp the nettle and ensure they implement these measures to improve the diversity of the next Senedd it will be to the detriment of the Welsh electorate.”

EYST All Wales Engagement Project Manager Selima Bahadur said:

“We welcome this guidance as it aligns with our EYST Wales organisational aims of having a Wales in which minority ethnic people can contribute, participate and are valued members of society. Having political parties signing up and acting on this guidance is crucial to ensure underrepresented groups, including the minority ethnic communities, have real representation at the Senedd of 2026. We need to see a Wales where the lived experiences and voices of minority ethnic people are seen, heard, and affect future Welsh legislation and decisions made by the Senedd.”

Founder & CEO Professor Uzo Iwobi CBE said:
“ Race Council Cymru welcomes this guidance as we believe that there could not be a more important time for political parties to uphold the fundamental principles of fairness, equity and social justice. We know the pressures being faced by pan equalities groups and disadvantaged communities whose voices must be heard and reflected across Wales. We call for the inclusion of diverse ethnic people in a fair and meaningful manner. Now is the time for all political parties to sign up to the guidance implement it.”