



(Title Image: Your Assembly)

The Llywydd, Elin Jones AM (Plaid, Ceredigion), provided AMs with an update on detailed plans for the establishment of a Welsh Youth Parliament to replace the Funky Dragon organisation, which closed in 2014-15.

From her statement, this is some of the new information:

There’ll be 60 members; 40 elected by electronic first-past-the-post voting from each Assembly constituency and the other 20 will be appointed by 10 partner organisations (two from each) to ensure diversity in the membership by focusing on under-represented groups.

The first election will take place over three weeks in November 2018, with nominations due in September 2018.

11-18-year-olds living in Wales will be eligible to vote and a registration drive will start at the Urdd Eisteddfod next week.

The running costs of the first year will be £65,000 (including election costs) with it costing £50,000 annually in subsequent years.

Three meetings will be held in the Senedd chamber over a two-year period, with regional meetings held alongside them (as they’re logistically easier).

The Llywydd hopes the candidates and those elected will become “champions for political engagement” in their own areas, putting together a brief manifesto outlining their priorities.

One area that particularly excited (if that’s the right word) AMs is the experiment in electronic voting. Though the Llywydd and others in the chamber hinted at this possibly being used in other elections in the future (local government etc.), she said such matters were beyond the scope of her statement.