Photo credit: Senedd Cymru

30th April 2025 

Craig Lawton, Grasshopper’s Head of Corporate Affairs, looks at what Welsh Government’s legislative programme tells us about their plans and priorities going into next year’s election. 

Welsh Government this week (Tuesday 29th April) announced their final legislative programme of this Senedd term. 

Julie James, Welsh Government’s Counsel General and Minister for Delivery, outlined four new Bills to be brought forward, focussing on: 

• New measures to strengthen accountability of Senedd Members 

• A ban on greyhound racing 

• Consolidating planning legislation to make the law more accessible 

• Regulating visitor accommodation through a licensing scheme  

As with each year, this announcement shows us what Welsh Government plan to focus on for the coming year. However, as the Senedd elections are in May 2026- just over a year away- this year’s announcement takes on an additional dynamic. 

By looking at the language and tone of the announcement, in addition to the detail, we can learn a lot about Welsh Government, as well as Welsh Labour priorities. 

Senedd election 

With the current UK Labour Government under pressure a year into its own legislative programme, Welsh Government appears to be once again drawing clear lines between the administrations at either end of the M4. This can be seen by the Minister’s commitment to respond to UK Government activity by ensuring Welsh Ministers “achieve outcomes that are in Wales’ best interests.” 

Similarly, the timing of this year’s announcement is key. Brought forward to April, Welsh Government has said it wants as much time as possible to deliver for Wales before the next election. 

Whilst any legislation not fully completed by the time of the election will fall by the way-side, as is always the case, the Minister’s statement suggests Welsh Government wishes to demonstrate it is doing as much as it can to deliver for Wales in the time it has left in this Senedd. 

No doubt this will evolve into a narrative, nearer to polling day, which attempts to draw clear differences between what Welsh Labour have delivered under Eluned Morgan’s leadership and what other parties, in particular Reform UK, have been focussing on. 

Co-operation agreements and coalitions 

Equally telling as to Welsh Labour’s focus is the origin of some of their proposed laws. 

The ban on greyhound racing is one of the commitments they gave to the sole Lib Dem in the Senedd- Jane Dodds- in order for the latest Welsh Government Budget to pass. 

Similarly, further regulations on visitor accommodation comes from one of the commitments made in the Co-operation Agreement between Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru shortly after the 2021 Senedd election. 

Despite that agreement ending early, when the newly appointed Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth withdrew support in May 2024, legislation focusing on second homes and housing (of which visitor accommodation is a significant part) remains a Welsh Government priority. 

With an expanded Senedd of 96 MSs, a new voting system and new constituencies all coming in 2026, the chances of any one party achieving a majority in May next year is extremely slim. This means some type of coalition, co-operation, or set of agreements is likely. 

What better way to start negotiations with some parties- namely Plaid Cymru and the Lib Dems- after results are, in than by pointing to how Welsh Labour has worked with them in the past. 

Therefore, whilst Welsh Government’s final legislative programme of this Senedd will look to introduce and finalise new laws, it seems to be one that is looking further into the future. The plan appears to be to set Welsh Labour up for next year’s Senedd election, and also construct the foundations to remain in government after May 2026. 

Senedd election coverage 

To find out more about the new Senedd constituencies and voting system, key candidate news, party manifestos, and who could get elected, get in touch with Grasshopper here.