Former MSs face lifetime ban from standards role

FORMER Senedd members should be permanently barred from judging the conduct of their former colleagues, Wales’ top lawyer has suggested — contradicting plans in the Welsh Government's new recall bill.

- CHRIS HAINES

The bill proposes a two-year cooling-off period before ex-MSs can serve as “lay” members on the Senedd's standards committee, which recommends sanctions for misconduct. But counsel general Julie James told a legislation committee on November 17 that a lifetime ban would better address public cynicism.

Under the plans, lay members would sit on the standards committee for the first time, but — unlike in other parliaments — they could include former politicians. Standards commissioner Douglas Bain has already argued that two years is too short, calling for a four-year bar. Ms James went further, saying ex-members should never sit in judgement of colleagues they once served alongside.