Running the Senedd to cost an extra 21%

THE cost of running the Senedd is to go up 21% next year, with the Senedd’s budget increasing from £84m this year to £102.6m in the 2026-27 financial year.

- RUTH MOSALSKI

The increase will fund changes which include £12.7m for 36 new Senedd members who will be elected to represent Welsh voters in May.

The Senedd Commission budget covers the property, staff and services required for the parliament to run. It also covers the costs of salaries and allowances of members and their staff. It comes as it was revealed the cost of modifying the Senedd chamber have gone up.

Huge changes to the building itself, but also the number of politicians, mean the cost of the annual budget is going up considerably. The draft budget spells out that because 2026-27 is an election year, there are extra costs associated with the budget. It will also be the first year there will be 96 elected representatives, and the extra costs will not only fund the members, their salaries and allowances but also their staff, as well as associated physical changes to the Senedd building.