Cwtsh in Cymru. Let’s talk Senedd, or more specifically what the Members of the Senedd actually do.
A Member of the Senedd - or MS for short - is elected by people in Wales to represent them. Which means their decisions can affect real stuff in your life. Like…
Education. Remember the new curriculum being introduced? Well, the Senedd had a hand in that.
And transport - although it’s not always their fault if you keep missing the bus.
These powers are devolved, which means Wales gets to decide these things itself.
But what do they actually do?
MSs debate ideas. They disagree, but they do get on. Well, most of the time!
Tell it like it is. They debate - some might say they argue…
OK, yes, they do argue. But, with facts and figures to back up their ideas and they can vote on laws.
MSs also help decide how the budget is spent.
So, how much money are we talking about here?
Around £25 billion a year! The money is spent on things like…
Education, so paying teachers and support staff and providing free childcare for working parents of 3–4-year-olds.
Transport, like subsidising rail fares and bus routes.
And climate action, things like reducing pollution and encouraging active travel like cycling and walking.
Committees are where things get studied in detail. Small groups of MSs focus on one topic, for example health or education, and take a really deep dive into it - but on land!
They talk to experts, read evidence, and ask a LOT of questions. Heavy on detail and very long but always necessary.
But being an MS isn’t just about Cardiff Bay - they do have homes to go to. It’s called their constituency.
Here, they work for their local community. They attend charity events and fundraisers, meet local groups and visit workplaces.
They also hold surgeries - but no blood and gore is involved though!
Surgeries in political terms are where people - members of the public - such as you and me, can come and talk about issues they’re facing, like the bus service being cut or traffic increasing in their area because of construction work.
Their job is to listen, understand what matters locally, and take those issues back to the Senedd.
Why are there more MSs coming to the Senedd?
Well, right now there are 60 MSs. After 2026? Ninety-six.
Supporters say the Senedd has way more powers now and needs more people to keep things in check. But critics say the money could be spent elsewhere.
So, that’s an MS.
They make laws. They hold the government to account. They argue over budgets. And they speak up for and represent the people of Wales.
Your MS. Your community. Your voice in the Senedd.
Description
Learn about the role of the Members of the Senedd - what they do and how they do it. Find out about the increase in the number of Members of the Senedd at the 2026 Senedd election.
Find out more about GCSE Politics (Wales)
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