6. Debate on the Report of the Special Purpose Committee on Senedd Reform — Reforming our Senedd: A stronger voice for the people of Wales

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:36 pm on 8 June 2022.

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Photo of Rhys ab Owen Rhys ab Owen Plaid Cymru 4:36, 8 June 2022

With hindsight, the latter group were correct—thankfully, Dafydd Wigley and Richard Livsey put their full force behind the most meagre of proposals, but one that, within a few years, had built this Parliament. 

If our nation had voted against devolution for a second time, we would have spent the last two decades as a voiceless periphery, unable to address the pandemic in a community-centred way, unable to act to protect our most vulnerable citizens, unable to withstand the full force of the disjointed, expensive and disastrous privatisation of the public services that our friends in England have suffered. The lesson, therefore, for all of us, is that, if we want to move our country forward, even if it's not the strides we want to take, we need to grasp it. Because do we want an undersized Parliament? And if 'no' is the answer, if we want to see a more progressive, a more proportional, a more diverse Parliament for Wales, then today we have a chance to take a great step forward. I, for one, despite the imperfections of Huw Irranca's report, in the new proposals, am excited and I'm honoured to vote for the new Senedd of tomorrow, not dwell in the old, inadequate one of today. Diolch yn fawr.