Budget warning on Senedd wages and jobs

IT WOULD be “almost impossible” for the newly expanded Senedd to function without the Welsh Government budget passing, the presiding officer, Elin Jones, has said while warning that staff wages including those of MSs - and even job cuts for Senedd staff could follow.

- RUTH MOSALSKI

She was answering questions from the finance committee about the planned Senedd Commission budget.

The budget contains the extra money that will be needed due to the expansion of the Senedd - a 21% increase on this year’s amount.

The Senedd Commission employs around 500 staff responsible for the provision of support services to MSs.

From May the number of elected politicians will rise from 60 to 96 and there will be an increase in staff to assist them too.

The cost of running the Senedd is to go up from £84m this year to £102.6m in the 2026-27 financial year. The increase will fund changes which includes £12.7m for 36 new Senedd Members who will be elected to represent Welsh voters in May.

The vote to pass the Senedd Commission’s budget is closely tied to the passing of the Welsh Government's budget, which could hang in jeopardy next year depending on the result of the by-election in Caerphilly on October 23.

Ms Jones told the committee there were unknowns about the future timetable and capacity of the new Senedd and they can prepare for that but the exact finances cannot yet be exactly determined.