The leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats has criticised the plans put forward by First Minister Mark Drakeford and Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price to increase the number of members in the Senedd.

MS for Mid and West Wales, Jane Dodds said that while the party supports reform, it does not think the plans will deliver what is needed.

MS Dodds said: “The statement falls short of what we need to create a Senedd and a democracy that fits Wales.

“The proposed constituency map will mean nothing to communities and we will still be lumbered with a voting system that fails to ensure that votes match seats. Plaid Cymru appeared to have abandoned their commitment to STV [Single Transferable Vote].

“In a scramble to make an announcement, Plaid Cymru and Labour have ensured that the debate about whether the Senedd is fit for purpose will start no sooner than these proposals are brought into law.”

The number of members in the Senedd will increase to 96 from 60 under the new plans which have been put forward by Wales’ First Minister and Mr Price.

The plan, which would also see a drastic change in how Senedd Members are elected, would be introduced in time for the next Senedd election in 2026 if it is accepted.

Described as “a way forward for Senedd reform”, the plan puts forward that the Senedd should be elected using “closed proportional lists with integrated statutory gender quotas and mandatory zipping”.

The plan, which has been criticised by both the Welsh Liberal Democrats and the Welsh Conservatives, also states that: “seats should be allocated to parties using the D’Hondt formula; The 2026 Senedd election should use the final 32 UK Parliament constituencies proposed by the Boundary Commission for Wales once it has concluded its 2023 Parliamentary Review; These constituencies should be paired to create 16 Senedd constituencies. Each constituency should elect six Members; and, A full boundary review should be instigated in this Senedd term and its recommendations should take effect from the subsequent Senedd election.”

At the moment, 40 Senedd Members are elected to represent 40 constituencies using the ‘first-past-the-post system’ which ensures whoever wins the most votes will take the seat.

A further 20 Senedd Members are chosen at the same time to represent five regions in a second separate vote.

The new system will see 32 constituencies in the Senedd which will be based on the 32 constituencies for the UK Parliament which are currently being decided on by the Boundary Commission for Wales.

The 32 new constituencies would then be paired to make 16 regions which would return six members each - the lists which are put forward by the political parties for each region would be legally required to meet gender quotas.

Brecon and Radnorshire MS James Evans also publicly opposed the plans which he described as “creating more jobs for the boys in Cardiff Bay”.

The Welsh Conservative posted on Facebook: “Welsh Labour, Plaid Cymru supported by Lib Dems are pushing ahead with expanding the Senedd and creating 36 more members of the Welsh Parliament

“Creating more jobs for the boys in Cardiff Bay is not what the people of Wales want and I will be opposing the proposed expansion.

“At a time when bills are rising, the cost-of-living crisis is hitting, I believe we should be cutting taxes on hardworking people, not creating more politicians at a huge expense to the taxpayer.

“The Welsh Conservatives fully oppose these proposals.”

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have not issued support for the expansion, although they are also not opposed to it.

However, they have accused the plan to reform the voting system as “falling short of creating a strong democracy for Wales”.

The Welsh Lib Dems said that the Westminster-set constituency boundaries and the voting system put forward “fails to ensure that votes match seats”.

While it is not clear how much the proposed change would cost yet, the Senedd Commission - which runs the Welsh Parliament - has estimated that it would be between £11.7million and £12.9million for the extra 30 members.

That figure includes paying for Senedd staff, running of elections, upkeep of the building and associated offices as well as for the elected SMs.

The amount to run the Senedd is agreed upon by Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru along with the Conservatives who all jointly run the Senedd Commission.

The total running cost for the Senedd for this year - 2021/22 - is due to be £62.9million.

Mark Drakeford said: “The case for Senedd reform has been made. We now need to get on with the hard work to create a modern Senedd, which reflects the Wales we live in today. A Parliament that truly works for Wales.

“The joint position statement we are publishing today will help support the important work of the cross-party Special Purpose Committee to move Senedd reform forwards.”

Mr Drakeford and Mr Price have sent a joint position statement to the chair of the cross-party Special Purpose Committee on Senedd Reform, Huw Irranca-Davies.

The committee must publish its report by Tuesday, May 31 before the plans are then debated and voted on by the Senedd.

Big changes, like those set out in the plan, must be backed by a so-called ‘super-majority’ which is made up of two-thirds of Senedd Members.

While Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru are not in a coalition, the joint position statement is the result of the ongoing consultations between Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru as part of the Co-Operation Agreement.

When the plan was published, Mr Price said: “These reforms will lay the foundations for a stronger Welsh democracy and a fairer, more representative Senedd that will look entirely different to the outdated political system at Westminster.

“A stronger, more diverse, more representative Senedd will have a greater capacity to perform its primary purpose of making a positive difference to the lives of the people of Wales”

EDIT: This was originally titled Powys Senedd members criticise plan to increase number of SMs. However, the Welsh Liberal Democrats are opposed to the votal system reform rather than the number of members increasing, whereas the the Welsh Conservatives are fully opposed to the reform. We are sorry for any confusion caused.