I weep at the selfishness of overworked politicians and the prospect of an extra 36 Senedd members by 2026 (County Times 5 Sept).

If ever, there was an argument for Senedd abolition, this is it. Where are the funds to pay for them-some £17 million per annum? Might be a little less, says former First Minister, Mark Drakeford, now reported to be worth £4 million yet still on our payroll! The Senedd building will need extending too.

Senedd members have salaries of £72,000 per annum, generous expenses, and pensions the largesse of which, were phased out by private businesses years ago.

 

OTHER NEWS:

With 32 Westminster MPs, in Wales we will have 128 members, representing just 26,000 citizens, including children - in a Welsh population of three and a quarter million.

In England, 543 MPs represent 110,000 citizens each, four times as many, in an English population of sixty million. Why? Are they better qualified across Offa’s Dyke? I doubt it. Could we pay them less here, pro-rata, £18,000 each perhaps?

The overall number in the Senedd should not be increased. Such action sends wrong signals in difficult times. £17 million should be sent on health, education, care of the elderly and not squandered on bureaucracy, the implementation of which will create more argument and waste of scant resources.

I would look elsewhere, if looking to start a business in Wales.

The proposals should be scrapped or deferred until better times, themselves unlikely, with this mindset.
Bruce Lawson, FCA
Montgomery