This 2013 paper investigated the experiences of Members of the Welsh Assembly elected for the first time in 2011. The research was conducted as part of the Hansard Society's comparative 'A Year in the Life' study of new legislators. According to the paper, new AMs felt that the Assembly was not as effective as it could be, nor as distinct as it should be.
In 2011 the National Assembly for Wales commissioned the Hansard Society to extend to Cardiff our 'A Year in the Life' study of new Westminster MPs, in order to provide the Assembly with independent research about the experiences of new Assembly Members in their first year, especially regarding their attitudes to the orientation and induction provided.
The research in turn informed the provision of professional development support during the 2011-2016 Assembly term, and the curation of the induction programme for new AMs after the 2016 election.
Research into the 2011 intake was especially pertinent because that year saw the turnover of over 30% of Assembly Members, the largest since the Assembly came into existence in 1999.
And the 2011-2016 term also opened with the Assembly having already undergone considerable change in its powers and structures, even in its relatively short life, but with a live debate underway both inside and outside the institution about the need for further reform, in which the views of AMs would be crucial in shaping any future changes.
To conduct the 'A Year in the Life' research in Cardiff, from summer 2011 the Hansard Society monitored the role and work of the new AMs, through surveys, interviews and personal observation, supplemented by discussions with Assembly staff.
The research found that, overall, new AMs were more satisfied with the aspects of their role to do with constituency work than with their role as legislators in the Assembly. Perhaps reflecting the lack of time and space to step back and think strategically about their role and work, AMs had few concrete suggestions for reform. However, they did have a sense that the Assembly was not as effective as it could be, and not as distinct as it should be, given the aspirations at the time of devolution that Cardiff should be different from Westminster. The report suggested that the problems facing AMs were as much cultural as procedural, and that political space was needed for an inclusive discussion transcending party lines and focusing on the challenges AMs share in common.
Introduction
The new AMs: their backgrounds and the road to Cardiff Bay
Arriving at the Senedd
The role and work of a new Assembly Member
The workings of the Assembly
One year on
Methodology
Could one of the most consequential Private Members’ Bills in nearly fifty years - the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which seeks to legalise assisted dying - be stopped not due to its content but because MPs fear they won’t have time to scrutinise it properly?
Following Kemi Badenoch’s election, this episode explores the challenges she faces as the new Leader of the Opposition. What does it take to build an effective Opposition? What strategic decisions, policy initiatives, and personnel choices must she navigate? What resources and procedural tools can she use to challenge the Government and build a compelling public profile? How does she balance party cohesion with presenting a credible alternative government and preparing for future elections?
Kemi Badenoch sparred with Keir Starmer for the first time at Prime Ministers’ Questions. We assess her debut as Leader of the Opposition and the impact she made in the chamber. Meanwhile, Donald Trump’s return to the White House is expected to reshape British policy across multiple fronts - we look at how it could influence Parliament’s agenda in the coming years. Finally, we head to Belfast for insights from political expert, David Phinnemore, on the constitutional conundrum unfolding in Northern Ireland.
In this episode, we discuss a variety of intriguing questions from listeners about the traditions and inner workings of Parliament. Topics include conduct in the Commons chamber, the practice of whipped votes, the origins of the Private Members' Bill ballot, and the unusual presence of ministers on select committees. We also discuss why MPs often refer to question numbers rather than asking questions directly in the Chamber, and consider the prospects for a future House of Lords committee dedicated to scrutinising EU-related issues affecting Northern Ireland.
When parliamentarians return to Westminster on October 7, all eyes will be on the Budget — the major parliamentary event on the immediate horizon. However, as the Government’s legislative agenda picks up speed and select committees get underway, there will be many other important developments to track. In the months ahead, we’ve identified 14 key issues worth watching closely, particularly as some of them may provide crucial signals about how this Government’s approach to and treatment of Parliament compares to its predecessors.
