Senedd
Welsh Parliament; expanded to 96 seats under closed-list PR; first non-Labour government formed May 2026.
Rhun ap Iorwerth presented his Programme for Government 2026-2030 to the Senedd on 22 September 2026, naming no partner party in a chamber where his Plaid Cymru holds 43 of 96 seats.
Last refreshed: 7 October 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
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Received the programme on 22 September
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UK Local Elections 2026Background
The Senedd is Wales's devolved legislature. It passes laws and scrutinises the Welsh Government across devolved areas including health, education, local government, housing, transport and parts of the environment. It first met in 1999 under the Government of Wales Act 1998 and was known as the National Assembly for Wales until 2020.
Since 7 May 2026 it has had 96 Members, elected in 16 six-member constituencies by closed-list D'Hondt proportional representation. A majority needs 49 seats; Plaid Cymru governs as a minority on 43.
On 15 September 2026 Dan Thomas resigned as leader of Reform UK in Wales, and so as Leader of the Opposition, after Gwent Police arrested him. He was released on bail, has not been charged and denies wrongdoing; he remains an MS. Reform's 33 MSs elected Helen Jenner as their leader on 21 September by 17 votes to 15.
The Senedd requires negotiated rule
On 7 May 2026 Wales elected 96 Members for the first time, across 16 six-member constituencies by closed-list proportional representation, replacing the 60-seat chamber. Plaid Cymru won 43 seats, six short of the 49 needed for a majority. Two Wales Green Members supplied the votes that elected Rhun ap Iorwerth First Minister on 12 May, without a written confidence-and-supply agreement, so every contested vote needs both.
The Programme for Government he presented on 22 September names no partner party and promises to "work constructively across the Senedd" where there is common ground.
Reference
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Written with AI from Lowdown's published reporting. Not individually reviewed by an editor. Updated 7 October 2026. Editorial standards.