The Importance of the Rural Voice

The Welsh Government (along with the Senedd), is now in a pre-election period of sensitivity (formally known as Purdah). The Senedd was formally dissolved on 8th April, prior to the next Senedd election on May 7th.

The election will be held under a new voting system following major reforms to how the Welsh Parliament is elected. These changes are significant and important for our members to understand, particularly in terms of how rural interests will be represented.

The Senedd will increase in size from 60 to 96 Members of the Senedd (MSs). The previous system of 40 constituency MSs and 20 regional MSs has been replaced. Wales will now be divided into 16 new ‘super constituencies’, each electing six MSs, all through the same electoral system.

Each new constituency has been formed by combining two adjacent Westminster constituencies and is designed to represent, on average, around 150,000 registered voters. As a result, constituencies are larger and more mixed, meaning there are no entirely rural or urban seats and no traditional ‘safe seats’. All 16 constituencies can be reviewed again before 2030.

The new voting system is known as Closed List Proportional Representation, which was previously used only for regional Senedd seats. Voters will now cast a single vote for a political party or an independent candidate, rather than an individual MS. Political parties submit a ranked list of up to eight candidates per constituency. After polls close, seats are allocated using the D’Hondt method, meaning seat numbers broadly reflect each party’s share of the vote.

Other changes members should note include the return to four-year Senedd terms, a requirement that candidates must reside in Wales, and a rule preventing town and community councillors from also serving as MSs. A recall mechanism for MSs is also being legislated for.

There has never been a more important time for CLA Cymru members’ voices to be heard. These reforms reinforce the importance of voter engagement and clear advocacy on rural issues. With larger constituencies and proportional outcomes, the CLA Cymru team will ensure your rural voices carry weight.

The CLA Cymru Manifesto - which we launched last summer - covers six topic areas of: Food and Farming, Planning, Housing, Tourism, Infrastructure, Connectivity.

At the core of our asks, we have called for a coherent, long-term rural economic strategy, that will be delivered by a rural productivity unit.

In their pledges, in relation to rural Wales, the following are some of the relevant high level pledges from the five top polling parties (please read their manifestos in full for all of the details).

Conservatives

• Welsh Farming and Countryside Scheme (WFCS) to replace the SFS
• Increased funding for agriculture (+£100m/year)
• Scrap the all Wales NVZ rules
• Eradicate Bovine TB
• Changes to planning rules (including allowing the change of use of redundant farm buildings for housing)
• Re-create the Welsh Development Agency

Green Party

• Support for local businesses, cooperatives, and community-led initiatives
• Public procurement to prioritise local suppliers,
• Commitment to greater food self-sufficiency through a National Horticulture Strategy.
• Expansion of organic food production via an Organic Action Plan
• Plans for a National Rewilding Strategy and better resourcing of environmental bodies.
• Introduction of a “Right to Roam” across Wales
• A clear pledge to end the closure of small rural schools

Labour

• Stability and continuation of the SFS, including support for sustainable land management, and protecting nature, biodiversity, and water quality.
• Focus on public services – improve healthcare and education.
• Develop an economic growth plan (of which rural is a part of this)

Plaid Cymru

• Create a National Development Agency
• Support for family farms as central to rural Wales
• Commitment to ensure farming policy supports sustainable food production and rural livelihoods
• Protection of rural communities from being disadvantaged by UK-level policy decisions affecting agriculture
• Increase the number of GPs to improve access to healthcare in rural communities
• Address shortages in rural medical provision as part of wider NHS reform plans
• Investment to keep local high streets, shops, pubs and community hubs open in rural areas
• Recognition that rural areas face service loss due to distance, cost pressures, and isolation
• Creation of a Welsh Broadband Infrastructure Company to improve rural digital connectivity
• Commitment to improve broadband access for homes and businesses across Wales
• Establishment of a specialist rural crime team for Wales to address crime affecting countryside communities
• Reform of the Rural Fuel Duty Relief Scheme to help address high fuel costs where public transport is limited

Reform UK

• Reform the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS)
• Develop a 10 year food strategy
• Reform Hybu Cig Cymru
• Tackle Bovine TB
• End the blanket all Wales NVZ
• Funding commitment for Young Farmers’ Clubs
• Flexible and easier planning rules for farms
• Buy local procurement focus
• Support small abattoirs
• No ban on release of game birds and no licensing scheme

CLA Cymru are lobbying all new candidates on the run up to the election. They have each received our manifesto and we are inviting ‘front runners’ from each voting constituency to on-farm visits.

The post-election period will be one of continued high-priority MS engagement, as there will be two thirds of MSs who have not previously been a government representative, many of whom who are not aware of the issues facing our rural businesses and communities.

It is predicted that a coalition government is likely to be required, and us such, we may get an opportunity for a few days or even weeks after the 7 May, to target new MSs, whilst they await a government to be formed. We intend to capitalise on this period, should it happen.

If you would be happy to host a visit from the team along with your local representatives (pre or post election), please get in touch Wales@cla.org.uk. Your stories and real life engagement make a huge difference in illustrating the realities of the challenges and opportunities faced in rural areas.