Drakeford’s new electoral rules ‘will thwart Reform’

FORMER First Minister Mark Drakeford has defended the proportional representation (PR) electoral system that will be used to elect Senedd members in May's elections.

- ELLIE GOSLEY Reporter [e-mail]

> Mark Drakeford

Mr Drakeford, who has long called for greater PR, claimed the new system he helped to introduce will prevent Reform UK from forming a government in Wales.

His comments come days after Reform leader Nigel Farage claimed his party would succeed under the new electoral system, which is why he “can’t be disappointed” by their loss to Plaid Cymru in the Caerphilly by-election.

Under the new system that will be used when people go to the polls in May, the public will elect 96 Senedd members, up from 60.

People will vote for a closed list of party candidates, who will be elected in proportion to the number of votes won by their party using the D'Hondt formula.

This means voters in each of the 16 new, larger constituencies will vote for a party they want to win the most seats, out of the six available for each constituency.

Under the old system, 40 Senedd members were elected in “first past the post” constituencies, with an additional 20 members elected by proportional representation.