Former First Minister Carwyn Jones has pledged that the use of both Welsh Parliament and Senedd to describe Wales’ legislature will be a “transitional stage”.

A proposal under the name of Plaid Cymru AM Rhun ap Iorwerth, to adopt the name Senedd Cymru alone was defeated by 39 votes to 16.

This was despite a YouGov opinion poll this morning showing that by 56% to 35% the people of Wales favoured the Welsh-only name ‘Senedd’.

Despite 59% of Labour supporters and 48% of Conservative supporters backing ‘Senedd’, both the Labour and Conservative Parties voted against the motion.

The proposal for a bilingual name was made by former First Minister Carwyn Jones and voted on in September.

Assembly Members did however back another motion by Carwyn Jones today to be called Members of the Senedd, rather than Members of the Welsh Parliament, when the changes come into force.

‘Necessary’

Responding to Jo Maugham QC, who had campaigned for a Welsh-only name, Carwyn Jones said that the bilingual name would be provisional.

“I see this as a transitional stage but I want to make sure the link is there for now,” Carwyn Jones said. “I will call it the Senedd.”

“Doesn’t it feel to you like a hugely modest accommodation to Welsh culture to ask of those living in Wales that they use a word that, because of its relationship to Senate, they’d likely understand anyway?” Jo Maugham QC asked.

“No, I don’t at this stage,” Carwyn Jones replied. “And I say that as a first language Welsh speaker. However, as I said, I believe it’s a necessary transitional description.”