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Welsh Assembly grants vote to 16 and 17-year-olds Welsh Assembly grants vote to 16 and 17-year-olds
(32 minutes later)
Sixteen and 17-year-olds will be able to take part in the 2021 Welsh Assembly election under a new law passed on Wednesday.Sixteen and 17-year-olds will be able to take part in the 2021 Welsh Assembly election under a new law passed on Wednesday.
The legislation gives 70,000 teenagers the vote, and extends the franchise to 33,000 foreign nationals.The legislation gives 70,000 teenagers the vote, and extends the franchise to 33,000 foreign nationals.
A total of 41 assembly members voted for the law, just exceeding the two-thirds majority of 40 votes needed. A total of 41 assembly members voted for the bill, just exceeding the two-thirds majority of 40 votes needed.
The assembly will be renamed Senedd Cymru/Welsh Parliament as part of the changes.The assembly will be renamed Senedd Cymru/Welsh Parliament as part of the changes.
Labour, Welsh Government ministers and Plaid Cymru backed the bill, but the Conservatives and Brexit Party opposed it. Labour, Welsh Government ministers and Plaid Cymru backed the bill, but the Conservatives and the Brexit Party opposed it.
The decision was backed with the help of Presiding Officer Elin Jones, who does not normally take part in Senedd votes. The decision was backed with the help of Presiding Officer Elin Jones and deputy presiding officer Ann Jones, who do not normally take part in Senedd votes.
Ms Jones said the law would "empower young people to participate in the democratic process".Ms Jones said the law would "empower young people to participate in the democratic process".
"This bill, in my view, will create a more inclusive, diverse and effective Senedd," she added."This bill, in my view, will create a more inclusive, diverse and effective Senedd," she added.
But the inclusion of votes for foreign nationals, following Welsh Government amendments earlier in the process, upset the Conservatives, despite some having backed votes for 16-year-olds. But the inclusion of votes for foreign nationals following Welsh Government amendments earlier in the process upset the Conservatives, despite some having backed votes for 16-year-olds.
Former Tory group leader Andrew RT Davies called it a "stitch-up" by the "left-wing political establishment".Former Tory group leader Andrew RT Davies called it a "stitch-up" by the "left-wing political establishment".
That was rejected by the presiding officer, who said it had all been done by "democratic process".That was rejected by the presiding officer, who said it had all been done by "democratic process".
Voting changes come into effect at the next assembly election, while the name change will happen in May 2020. Voting changes come into effect at the next assembly election, while the name will change in May 2020.
Will 16-year-olds vote?Will 16-year-olds vote?
Tabitha Anthony, 18, is studying for A-Levels in Tondu, Bridgend county, and plans to vote Conservative. She said she did not think 16-year-olds "would be mature enough to do their own research".Tabitha Anthony, 18, is studying for A-Levels in Tondu, Bridgend county, and plans to vote Conservative. She said she did not think 16-year-olds "would be mature enough to do their own research".
"There are a handful of people in my school who are 18 and are able to vote but they're not politically aware enough," she said before Wednesday's vote.
"I've heard in our common room lots of people discussing politics, but they're trying to describe and explain the different policies to each other when really you're just hearing the propaganda that's being spread.""I've heard in our common room lots of people discussing politics, but they're trying to describe and explain the different policies to each other when really you're just hearing the propaganda that's being spread."
Lara Evans, 19, from Tredegar, Blaenau Gwent, said she "100%" would have voted at 16. "I think 16 is a completely responsible age to give people the vote," the politics student said.Lara Evans, 19, from Tredegar, Blaenau Gwent, said she "100%" would have voted at 16. "I think 16 is a completely responsible age to give people the vote," the politics student said.
The Plaid Cymru supporter added: "If people feel that they don't want to vote at 16 then they don't have to vote because the likelihood is if you're not interested in politics - maybe you don't feel you align with any party or strongly enough.
"That's the same whether you're 16 or a lot older… it depends how involved you are in politics rather than what your age is."
Geraint Williams, 19, from Cardiff, said: "Young people are definitely more engaged in politics."Geraint Williams, 19, from Cardiff, said: "Young people are definitely more engaged in politics."
The musical theatre student, who is undecided but leaning towards Labour, added: "We're realising that it's our future and we are the future generation and that we have the opportunity to make the final decision."The musical theatre student, who is undecided but leaning towards Labour, added: "We're realising that it's our future and we are the future generation and that we have the opportunity to make the final decision."
The Senedd and Elections Bill's provisions mean that about 70,000 16 and 17-year-olds will be able to vote for the first time in 2021. As well as 16-17 year olds, the Senedd and Elections Bill will allow foreign nationals resident in Wales to vote in assembly elections - beyond those EU and Commonwealth citizens who can already take part.
But the addition, through Welsh Government amendments, to allow foreign nationals living legally in Wales to take part angered the Conservative group. David Melding, Conservative AM, said the new name was an "appropriate recognition" of the assembly's powers, but the foreign national measures had been added without consultation in a way that was "quite insulting frankly to those with genuine concerns with lack of scrutiny".
The move means 33,000 people, who are not already EU or Commonwealth citizens, can vote in Senedd elections. "This novel idea is not common practice anywhere else, as far I'm aware," he said.
David Melding, Conservative AM, told the debate he was unhappy the measure had been introduced without consultation at the second stage.
He said the new name was an "appropriate recognition" of the assembly's powers, and he had been keen to support votes for 16-year-olds.
But he said the foreign national measures had been added "completely unscrutinised" in a way that was "quite insulting frankly to those with genuine concerns with lack of scrutiny".
He claimed the bill, which was introduced by the Assembly Commission but has been significantly amended, had been "hijacked by the Welsh Government".He claimed the bill, which was introduced by the Assembly Commission but has been significantly amended, had been "hijacked by the Welsh Government".
Scotland gave 16-year-olds the vote in 2013 for the 2014 independence referendum.Scotland gave 16-year-olds the vote in 2013 for the 2014 independence referendum.
Elin Jones said the extension of the franchise to 16-and-17 year olds was "long over due".Elin Jones said the extension of the franchise to 16-and-17 year olds was "long over due".
"This bill is greater than the sum of its parts, she said, saying it gives the assembly a name which "truly reflects its constitutional status". "This bill is greater than the sum of its parts," she said, saying it gives the assembly a name which "truly reflects its constitutional status".
But Brexit Party AM Mark Reckless said the rules also mean she should "demonstrate impartiality at all times". But Brexit Party AM Mark Reckless said that, by voting for the bill, "the partiality and bias" of the presiding officer "has been demonstrated".
"Again, the partiality and bias of the Llywydd has been demonstrated. This time it will have a serious impact on the constitutional arrangements of Wales." "This time it will have a serious impact on the constitutional arrangements of Wales," he warned.
Ms Jones told BBC Wales that the rules of the assembly allow "for the presiding officers for the Llywydd, me, to vote where a super majority is required, and that was required today in the passing of today's constitutional bill and I exercised my right to vote". Ms Jones told BBC Wales that the rules of the assembly allow "for the presiding officers for the Llywydd, me, to vote where a super majority is required, and that was required today in the passing of today's constitutional bill".
A super-majority of two-thirds of AMs was needed for the bill as it changes the law relating to the assembly itself.A super-majority of two-thirds of AMs was needed for the bill as it changes the law relating to the assembly itself.
Why is the assembly getting a new name?Why is the assembly getting a new name?
The bill's passage follows a row about what the assembly should be called.The bill's passage follows a row about what the assembly should be called.
For some time there were calls for the Assembly to be renamed the Welsh Parliament, in recognition of its growing role in making law. For some time there were calls for the assembly to be renamed the Welsh Parliament, in recognition of its growing role in making law.
Plaid Cymru and others, including in Labour, wanted the name Senedd. A majority of AMs in the end agreed, with the support of the Welsh Government, to call the institution Senedd Cymru/Welsh parliament. Plaid Cymru and others, including in Labour, wanted the Welsh-only Senedd. A majority of AMs in the end agreed to call the institution Senedd Cymru/Welsh Parliament, with the support of the Welsh Government
AMs themselves will be called Members of the Senedd, however. The Welsh Government minister Jeremy Miles told the chamber ministers will use the term Senedd to refer to the assembly.AMs themselves will be called Members of the Senedd, however. The Welsh Government minister Jeremy Miles told the chamber ministers will use the term Senedd to refer to the assembly.
Rhun ap Iorwerth said he was disappointed with the name decision but said the legislation was an "important milestone". "We have won by default," Plaid's Rhun ap Iorwerth said.
He said the law "formally notes the assembly's flowering into a national parliament for our country, but that also invites more of our citizens - our young citizens - to be involved in the political and democratic processes that underpin our existence as an institution". While disappointed with the name, he said the legislation was an "important milestone".
The name Senedd, he said, would have shown "we are confident in our heritage, united in our future, and that we celebrate what makes us unique as a country". He said the law "formally notes the assembly's flowering into a national parliament for our country". The name Senedd, he said, would have shown "we are confident in our heritage, united in our future, and that we celebrate what makes us unique as a country".
The bill includes measures to stop councillors from also being assembly members, and to disqualify registered sex offenders from joining the Senedd.The bill includes measures to stop councillors from also being assembly members, and to disqualify registered sex offenders from joining the Senedd.