February 2018: the McAllister review on Assembly Electoral Reform

The Expert Panel on Assembly Electoral Reform, the McAllister review, reported in December 2017 and made a series of proposals for using new powers to reform elements of the National Assembly for Wales' electoral system. It was asked to make recommendations which could be implemented in time for the Assembly elections in 2021. 

Just some of the proposals they made included: 

• Increasing the number of Assembly Members to at least 80, and more like 90

• Proposing using different systems by which AMs are elected. First choice being STV, and a viable alternative being Flexible List

• Lowering the voting age for Assembly elections to 16 year olds

• Integrating a gender quota into the electoral system, and allowing AMs to job share

Ahead of the debate in the Assembly later,  unpicking the issues at play, Rhea Stevens is joined by:

• Jess Blair, Director of  ERS Cymru

• Natasha Davies, Chwarae Teg’s Policy and Research Lead

• Carmen Ria Smith, NUS Wales Deputy President