What is the senedd?

The Senedd, or Welsh Parliament, is the devolved parliament of Wales, based in Cardiff Bay. It makes laws on areas such as health, education, transport and the Welsh language, and can vary some taxes. Since the May 2026 election it has 96 members, elected by closed-list proportional representation.

The Senedd began as the National Assembly for Wales in 1999, after a narrow yes vote in the 1997 referendum. It gained full law-making powers after a 2011 referendum and was renamed Senedd Cymru, or the Welsh Parliament, in 2020. Since 2019 it has been able to set Welsh rates of income tax. It meets in a building known as the Senedd, opened in 2006.

The Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024 expanded it from 60 to 96 members. At the May 2026 election, voters in 16 constituencies each elected six members from party lists, using the D'Hondt method. Plaid Cymru won 43 seats, Reform UK 34, Labour 9, the Conservatives 7, the Greens 2 and the Liberal Democrats 1. Turnout was about 52%. Parties won seats.

The Senedd chooses the First Minister, who leads the Welsh Government. With 49 seats needed for a majority, Plaid Cymru formed a minority government in May 2026. Sixteen and seventeen year olds, and most foreign nationals living legally in Wales, can vote in Senedd elections. Defence, foreign policy and most of the economy remain reserved to Westminster. It holds elections every five years.