Wales Governance Centre | Canolfan Llywodraethiant Cymru

How will the 2026 Senedd election change Welsh politics?

On 5 March, join @jessblair.bsky.social, @lauramcallister30.bsky.social and @paulsilk.bsky.social to discuss recent and possible future reforms to the Senedd.

Sign up for this free, online event 👉 www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo....

The House of Lords and Devolution: Already a Chamber of the Nations and Regions? When it published its report in 2022, one of the main recommendations of the Brown Commission, established by the Labour Party to examine the future governance of the UK, was for the replacement of t....

Are you an enthusiast for mostly appointed, slightly hereditary and a teensy bit theocratic second chambers *and* a devotee of #devolution?

My latest article, in @politicalquarterly.bsky.social, examines the extent to which @houseoflords.parliament.uk already acts as a chamber of nations & regions

The Senedd Election: Perspectives from outside Wales The Wales Governance Centre is delighted to host this guest lecture from Prof. Sarah Childs (Edinburgh) and Prof. Rosie Campbell (King's).

Fel rhan o ddathliadau Dydd Gŵyl Dewi a Diwrnod Rhyngwladol y Menywod ar ddechrau Mis Mawrth, byddwn ni'n cynnal darlith gwadd gan yr Athro Sarah Childs a @profrosiecamp.bsky.social i drafod etholiad y Senedd 2026 o safbwynt gweddill y Deyrnas Unedig. #Senedd26 👇
www.eventbrite.com/e/1982674537...

The Senedd Election: Perspectives from outside Wales The Wales Governance Centre is delighted to host this guest lecture from Prof. Sarah Childs (Edinburgh) and Prof. Rosie Campbell (King's).

As part of the celebrations for St. David's Day and International Women's Day we are delighted to host this guest lecture from Professor Sarah Childs, and @profrosiecamp.bsky.social to discuss the 2026 Senedd election from the perspective of the rest of the UK. 👇
www.eventbrite.com/e/1982674537...

Hi Ann, please email us and we will forward to the research team - WGC@cardiff.ac.uk

Fiscal Challenges Facing Wales and Scotland to Be Investigated Academics will be providing analysis of the economic challenges facing devolved governments in Wales and Scotland as elections get underway.

"This project will [provide] accessible, authoritative analysis of the economic and fiscal issues at stake in these elections.

We’ll be delivering content in both English and Welsh to ensure we reach all communities across Wales.” - @edgarethpoole.bsky.social #Senedd26 #Wales #Cymru

New report, Conditioning Power: Devolved Law-Making after the Supreme Court's s.28(7) Rulings. University of Glasgow, Centre for Public Policy. Image of the report cover. Parter logos - Durham University, Cardiff University, University of Strathclyde

📢 NEW REPORT 📢

📝 Conditioning Power: Devolved Law-Making after the Supreme Court’s s.28(7) Rulings

Recent decisions by the UK Supreme Court have introduced unexpected constraints on devolved law-making.

Learn more – read the report: www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/...

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‘You can tell the mood has changed’: How Plaid Cymru led the Welsh fightback against Reform Nigel Farage’s party was on the charge in Wales – but after the seismic Caerphilly byelection, progressives now believe they can come out on top in May

“There are now more people in Wales who say they feel Welsh rather than British, it’s accelerated madly since Brexit and Covid…
In England, Britishness is seen as the more inclusive identity, when Englishness isn’t, necessarily” - @jaclarner.bsky.social #Senedd26 #Wales #Cymru

Dr @jaclarner.bsky.social ar rhaglen Today yn trafod arolygon barn diwetharaf ac y newidiadau yng nglweidyddiaeth Cymreig o flaen etholiad y Senedd ym mis Mai

Dr Jac Larner speaks with Radio 4's Today programme about the upcoming Welsh Parliament election and the latest polling 👇 #Senedd26 #Wales

Powerful piece by @nyedavies.bsky.social on the challenges, indeed some might say crises, currently facing two of Wales’s most significant institutions: the WRU and Welsh Labour nation.cymru/opinion/rugb...

Rugby, Labour and the Crisis of Welsh Institutions Nye Davies Sport can often reflect a nation. In Wales, rugby has played a prominent role in the formation of a national consciousness, or at least a shared perception of what it means to be Welsh. Dai...

“the WRU, an institution that has sat at the heart of Welsh sporting and cultural life for almost 150 years has, rather than creating lasting legacies of Grand Slams and world-class players, become adept at producing apathy and disillusionment” @nyedavies.bsky.social 👇👇

nation.cymru/opinion/rugb...

Senedd passes budget after Welsh Labour makes deal with Plaid Cymru All government departments and local authorities will get real-terms funding increases after Plaid agrees to abstain

“Whichever party comes in May will face serious problems … Plaid is going for a change agenda, but it will be difficult for [them] to fight an election on public service delivery and then actually follow through” -
@lauramcallister30.bsky.social
#Senedd26 #Cymru #Wales

Ahead of #Senedd26 @jaclarner.bsky.social joined the BBC's Chris Mason in #Pontypridd to discuss the big shifts in Welsh politics that suggest a century of electoral dominance by the Labour Party is being challenged by Reform UK and Plaid Cymru, who are battling to top the polls in #Wales.

Why peril could lie in the Welsh valleys for Starmer Voters in Wales will elect a new devolved government - and opinion polls suggest the prospect of a groundbreaking result.

“[in Reform UK] we are potentially seeing the rise of viable right wing party in Wales for government” @jaclarner.bsky.social

“[Plaid Cymru] are making an argument about being the best party to stand up for Wales. Welsh Labour used to be seen to be that by many" - @lauramcallister30.bsky.social

So what does it mean to be properly English? There’s nothing wrong in anybody taking pride in being English, of course, but as Orwell said, there’s something very un-English in shouting about it.

Trafodir ymchwil @theunionsurvey.bsky.social gan @richardwynjones.bsky.social ac @ailsahenderson.bsky.social yn yr erthygl hon 👇 / This article discusses our research about Englishness from The Union Survey 👇
www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2...

Worth a listen.

The FM seems to be trying to use the electoral threat of Plaid (‘seperatists’) to generate leverage for the Welsh govt in dealing with the UK govt so as to ensure that it treats Wales ‘fairly’ in those areas in which it has *already* refused to act (rail, justice, crown estate) 1/

Dr @polpsychjoe.bsky.social speaks with @bbcwales.bsky.social Radio about the first anniversary of Donald Trump's second term as president, his foreign and domestic policies, and domestic approval ratings. 👇

Mae @lauramcallister30.bsky.social yn trafod gwleidyddiaeth Cymru ac yr arolygon barn #Senedd26 diwetharaf ar rhaglen 'PM'👇

Prof. Laura McAllister discusses Welsh politics at the start of the new year and the current positions of the parties ahead of the Welsh Parliamentary election in May👇

‘They misjudged Caerphilly’: how the Reform juggernaut backfired in Welsh byelection It was assumed that Reform would sweep all before it – but locals rejected the party’s campaign of ‘lies and hate’

“Caerphilly isn’t some post-industrial wasteland passively absorbing whatever political winds blow from across the border – it has its own political traditions” - Dr @jaclarner.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

For devolution anoraks/desperate insomniacs without institutional access, a pdf of the article can be found here www.researchgate.net/publication/... #devolution #senedd

My latest article published today in the Welsh History Review, on the role of the Welsh Assembly’s body corporate structure in the unravelling of Wales’s first #devolution dispensation: Govt of Wales Act 1998.

Guaranteed to help you sleep soundly through tonight’s fireworks… #senedd

General Election Voting Intention: Centre Left Fragmentation and the Reform UK Challenge Showcasing current research, comments and analysis on the law, politics, history, culture, government and political economy of Wales from the Wales Governance Centre.

Bwriadau pleidleisio San Steffan / Westminster Voting Intention (YouGov) / (28/11 - 10/12) - nid MRP/not MRP method

REF: 30%
PC: 19%
LLAF/LAB: 15%
GWYRDD/GRN: 14%
CEID/CON: 13%
DEM RHYDD/LD: 8%
ERAILL/OTH: 2%

N = 1,954

Ein dadansoddiad ni / Analysis: blogs.cardiff.ac.uk/thinking-wal...

Consolidation, Not Conversion: Understanding Wales’s Ongoing Realignment Showcasing current research, comments and analysis on the law, politics, history, culture, government and political economy of Wales from the Wales Governance Centre.

Bwriadau pleidleisio Senedd / Senedd Voting Intention (YouGov - nid MRP/ not MRP method) / (28/11 - 10/12)

PC: 33%
REF: 30%
LLAF/LAB: 10%
CEID/CON: 10%
GWYRDD/GRN: 9%
DEM RHYDD/LD: 6%
ERAILL/OTH: 2%

N=1,891

Ein dadansoddiad ni / Our analysis: blogs.cardiff.ac.uk/thinking-wal...

🚨Final YouGov/Cardiff University Senedd Vote Intention opinion polling of 2025 to be published Wednesday morning🚨

🚨Arolwg barn terfynol YouGov/Prifysgol Caerdydd ar gyfer 2025 - Bwriad Pleidleisio Senedd i'w gyhoeddi fore Mercher🚨

🚨Final YouGov/Cardiff University Senedd Vote Intention opinion polling of 2025 to be published Wednesday morning🚨

🚨Arolwg barn terfynol YouGov/Prifysgol Caerdydd ar gyfer 2025 - Bwriad Pleidleisio Senedd i'w gyhoeddi fore Mercher🚨

Wales set to cement title for highest imprisonment rate in western Europe Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter Wales’ unwanted title as the nation with the highest “in-country” imprisonment rate in western Europe is set to be solidified due to the expansion of HMP Parc. The w...

Wales' unwanted title as the nation with the highest ‘in-country’ imprisonment rate in western Europe is set to be solidified due to the expansion of HMP Parc

Council tax rises not ruled out after Plaid-Labour budget deal Welsh rates of council tax could still rise, according to a councillor, despite budget deal.

Yn cynnwys dadansoddiad newydd gan dîm Dadansoddi Cyllid Cymru 👇

Including new analysis from the Wales Fiscal Analysis team 👇
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The Welsh Government-Plaid Cymru Budget Agreement – an immediate reaction Showcasing current research, comments and analysis on the law, politics, history, culture, government and political economy of Wales from the Wales Governance Centre.

NEWYDD: Dadansoddiad newydd gan dîm Dadansoddi Cyllid Cymru ar y cytundeb cyllidebol rhwng Llywodraeth Cymru a Phlaid Cymru:

NEW: New analysis from the Wales Fiscal Analysis on the Welsh Governmentt - Plaid Cymru Budget Deal:
blogs.cardiff.ac.uk/thinking-wal...

‘Can Devolution Survive the UK’s New Politics?’ – Professor Sir John Curtice YouTube video by School of Law and Politics

Mae'r recordiad o'n Darlith Flynyddol 2025 gan Yr Athro Syr John Curtice, Prifysgol Ystrad Clud, nawr ar gael ar YouTube

The recording ofour 2025 Annual Lecture by Prof. Sir John Curtice of @unistrathclyde.bsky.social is now on YouTube

👇 'Can Devolution Survive the UK's New Politics?' #Senedd26

Income tax changes are worse news for people in Wales Analysis of the Chancellor's budget makes sour reading if you're in Wales

"The total net effect of tax devolution on the Welsh Government budget next year is set to be £524 million, over 2% of day-to-day spending. The continued freezing of thresholds means the tax bonus will continue to grow until the end of the decade." #Senedd26
www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politic...