Senedd Committee Proposes Stricter Rules Against Politician Deception

The Senedd standards committee has proposed measures to tackle intentional deception by politicians, urging the Welsh government to strengthen existing laws rather than create a new criminal offence. The committee recommends enhancing in-house rules, expanding the definition of existing offences to include deception, and empowering the standards commissioner to initiate investigations independently. Additionally, it suggests implementing a recall system for voters to remove Senedd members who seriously breach the code of conduct. Chairwoman Hannah Blythyn emphasized the need for reform to restore public trust in politics, especially ahead of the 2026 Senedd elections. However, some committee members expressed concerns that criminalizing lying could politicize the courts and infringe on free expression. The Welsh government is expected to formally respond to these recommendations soon.