HERE WE GO AGAIN. 🚨
@WelshGovernment have released their voluntary Diversity & Inclusion guidance for political parties.
The consultation closes on 7th January 2025.
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Draft diversity and inclusion guidance for registered political parties [HTML] | GOV.WALES
The guidance is split into three parts for political parties: 1. Publication of a strategy 2. Collection of data 3. Quotas for women candidates
For obvious reasons, we are particularly interested in Part 3.
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The guidance refers to 'specified characteristics' which go beyond the Equality Act 2010.
Sex is referred to within this and IS linked to the Act.
HOWEVER. This section relates only to Parts 1 and 2. Strategy and Data. NOT quotas for women.
Guess what this means? 3/8
Is @WalesOnline an impartial and accurate news source?
On 18/9 they published this story, which is both factually inaccurate and biased.
We contacted both the reporter and the editor to offer balance and to correct the inaccuracies.
NO RESPONSE.
A 🧵 1/8
The article reports on the response of several groups, who were all keen to see the ‘Gender Quotas’ Bill become law in Wales.
Their views are reported uncritically, along with their disappointment with Welsh Government at the scrapping of the Bill.
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We didn’t share their enthusiasm. Neither did other women or groups.
The Bill attempted to introduce self ID.
It also allowed for at LEAST 50% of candidates to be ‘women’ on electoral lists.
It did NOT allow for a 50/50 split as claimed inaccurately in the article.
3/8
Self ID in Wales has been defeated (for now anyway).
The scrapping of the ‘Gender Quotas Bill’ concludes what has been an embarrassing and shoddy episode in the history of the Welsh Senedd. And a scandalously wasteful one too.
A 🧵 1/9
We don’t know if ANYONE is left at the #Senedd today, but we are here at least!
We’ll be listening to the debate on the Electoral Candidates Lists Bill.
Will Members support or reject it?
Either way, it’s looking like being kicked into the long grass to 2030.
#NoToSelfID
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Our letter following the release of the report of the Reform Bill Committee. 2/
Report of the Reform Bill Committee at Stage 1 is here. 3/