9. Debate seeking the Assembly's agreement to introduce a Commission-proposed Bill — The Welsh Parliament and Elections (Wales) Bill

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:27 pm on 10 October 2018.

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Photo of Gareth Bennett Gareth Bennett UKIP 4:27, 10 October 2018

I do, actually, Llyr, but I think if you asked many members of the general public they wouldn't know what the Dáil is or the Taoiseach. [Interruption.] Oh, in Ireland, yes; okay, we have to relate it to Ireland. Well, that's an interesting point. Let me have a think about that. You've raised a good point. 

We do agree with the proposed changes relating to disqualification. We did have an issue within UKIP not so long ago over the position of Nathan Gill, who combined being a Member of the Assembly with being a Member of the European Parliament. This didn't really prove to be a very happy combination of roles. As Members may recall, Nathan was notable in Cardiff largely for his absence, although I'm sure he's been very diligent in his attendance at Strasbourg. I think that case does illustrate—[Interruption.] I think that case does illustrate the dangers of allowing politicians to 'double job', as this practice is now termed. 

Now, I know that we have two Members here in the Assembly who are also Members of the Lords. I'm not implying in any way that they've done anything out of turn. Their cases are quite different. I know that Dafydd Elis-Thomas and Eluned Morgan have done useful things in the Lords after they were elected here. So, you can make useful contributions in two different legislatures in some cases. But I think that, on the whole, the general public will find the practice rather fishy looking and I think it's best that the door is closed on this practice, regardless of the individual contributions that some Members may have made in two different Chambers.

So, we agree with this element of the Llywydd's proposals, that, in future, Members of the Lords should not be eligible for the Assembly unless they have signed a leave of absence from the Lords. We also agree with the material relating to High Sheriffs and Lord-lieutenants and to the 14-day period—can I call it a cooling off period—after Assembly polling day.

The only point we do take issue with is over your wish to extend the franchise to 16 and 17-year-olds. We feel that this is a young age at which to ask people to make political decisions. There are enough things for 16 and 17-year-olds to think about as it is without adding the difficulty of political allegiances. There is no great public support for the increase in the franchise, as far as opinion polls have shown, although, as usual, the Assembly's consultation has provided a different figure. So, we don't feel that this urge to give the vote to 16 and 17-year-olds is a great idea, and we don't agree with this part of the proposals, but the rest of them, as I say, we do support. Diolch yn fawr.