On Tuesday 24th April WRN's Cathy Larkman addressed the Reform Bill committee at the Senedd to raise concerns about the intention of the Welsh Government to introduce ‘gender quotas’ via their Electoral Candidates Lists Bill. The Bill proposes to force parties to select at least 50% electoral candidates who make a ‘gender statement’ that they are a woman. There is no provision for challenging false ‘gender statements’, nor any sanctions. The Bill would therefore allow any candidate to state they are a woman - effectively self identification through the back door
The Llywydd/Presiding Officer has received legal advice that the Bill is not within legislative competence but, in an unprecedented step, the Welsh Government is pressing ahead with it, maintaining that it is lawful.
Following the meeting Cathy Larkman said “It is deeply concerning that this Bill would actually permit men to make a ‘gender statement’ that they are a woman, in order to take advantage of the priority it would afford them on electoral lists....This legislation must therefore comply with the Equality Act 2010. A woman is a female of any age and self identification is not the law in the UK”.