A ‘globally pioneering’ move to criminalise political lying was warmly welcomed at the Welsh Senedd.
The Senedd Standards Committee’s landmark report recommending that deliberately lying to the public in order to win an election should be made a criminal offence.
Described as a “globally pioneering” step, the proposal is a genuine watershed moment in the effort to combat political disinformation and deception—threats the report recognises as serious risks to the future of democracy.
The Standards Committee Report published on February 19, includes five key conclusions and 11 recommendations:
• Criminal Offence: Central to the report is the proposal to make it a criminal offence for a candidate or election agent to knowingly publish false information in order to affect the outcome of a vote.
• Correction and Disqualification: The Committee endorses a strengthened mechanism for Members, allowing for publicly mandated corrections and potential disqualification for deliberate deception—a first for the Senedd.
• Independence Concern: Committee recommendations for existing members rely on the Standards process, with politicians effectively policing each other.
• Public Support: Polling indicates over two-thirds of voters support criminalising lying in politics, suggesting widespread backing for robust legislation.
• Next Steps: The Welsh Government has committed to introducing legislation by 2026.
Plaid Cymru has highlighted the Government’s commitment to an independent judicial process as ‘crucial’ to genuine reform.
The party has also urged swift progress to ensure strong, independent enforcement well ahead of the next Senedd election.
Plaid Cymru also welcomes the Committee’s support for allowing for a system of public corrections (as Plaid originally proposed) and disqualification for deliberate deception by serving Members.
However, Plaid believes it is vital for both candidates and Members to be held to the same rigorous standard, with decisions determined by a truly independent court or tribunal in line with the commitment made by the Welsh Government.
The party calls on the Welsh Government to swiftly bring forward legislation that secures these principles and to ensure the new law is in place before the next Senedd election—in line with its pledge to present such legislation by 2026.
Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd, Adam Price said: “The cross party consensus signified by this report is a globally pioneering step in tackling deliberate political deception.
“Making it a criminal offence to lie to voters is one of the boldest recommendations by any parliamentary committee we’ve seen worldwide, and it shows a real determination to protect democracy from the corrosive impact of disinformation.
“This same radicalism needs to be applied not just to candidates but to the already elected.”
The Senedd Standards Committee’s landmark report recommending that deliberately lying to the public in order to win an election should be made a criminal offence.
Described as a “globally pioneering” step, the proposal is a genuine watershed moment in the effort to combat political disinformation and deception—threats the report recognises as serious risks to the future of democracy.
The Standards Committee Report published on February 19, includes five key conclusions and 11 recommendations:
• Criminal Offence: Central to the report is the proposal to make it a criminal offence for a candidate or election agent to knowingly publish false information in order to affect the outcome of a vote.
• Correction and Disqualification: The Committee endorses a strengthened mechanism for Members, allowing for publicly mandated corrections and potential disqualification for deliberate deception—a first for the Senedd.
• Independence Concern: Committee recommendations for existing members rely on the Standards process, with politicians effectively policing each other.
• Public Support: Polling indicates over two-thirds of voters support criminalising lying in politics, suggesting widespread backing for robust legislation.
• Next Steps: The Welsh Government has committed to introducing legislation by 2026.
Plaid Cymru has highlighted the Government’s commitment to an independent judicial process as ‘crucial’ to genuine reform.
The party has also urged swift progress to ensure strong, independent enforcement well ahead of the next Senedd election.
Plaid Cymru also welcomes the Committee’s support for allowing for a system of public corrections (as Plaid originally proposed) and disqualification for deliberate deception by serving Members.
However, Plaid believes it is vital for both candidates and Members to be held to the same rigorous standard, with decisions determined by a truly independent court or tribunal in line with the commitment made by the Welsh Government.
The party calls on the Welsh Government to swiftly bring forward legislation that secures these principles and to ensure the new law is in place before the next Senedd election—in line with its pledge to present such legislation by 2026.
Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd, Adam Price said: “The cross party consensus signified by this report is a globally pioneering step in tackling deliberate political deception.
“Making it a criminal offence to lie to voters is one of the boldest recommendations by any parliamentary committee we’ve seen worldwide, and it shows a real determination to protect democracy from the corrosive impact of disinformation.
“This same radicalism needs to be applied not just to candidates but to the already elected.”
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00received the Standards Committee report on deliberate deception, but that's under embargo,
00:04so I won't address its content now. But there is strong public interest, nevertheless, on the
00:10preparatory legal drafting work done so far. The Deputy First Minister sat near you and suggested
00:18using the Senedd election conduct order to extend its scope at the existing criminal
00:27offence under section 106 of the Representational People Act. That would make us the first
00:31democracy in the world to prohibit lying by politicians to win elections, which I think
00:38the cross-party consensus on that is something that we should really celebrate. I was wondering
00:45if you could say, given that the consultation on the conduct order, the draft order closed yesterday,
00:53will there be a further consultation in relation to this new proposal, and do you intend to lay
01:03the final conduct order by September in line with the Gould principle that the changes must be
01:14introduced at least six months before the polling date in question? Thank you for that question,
01:20and, indeed, the conduct order is really key to our Senedd reform in terms of the way forward,
01:30and, indeed, timing is crucial as we get nearer to the elections in 2026, as it is the Deputy
01:37First Minister who's responsible for this in terms of, again, at what point laying the final
01:46foreign consultation will be forthcoming, but as he's here in the Chamber, I think he's heard that
01:53point, and hopefully now we can get clarity. I can't see that there'll be more consultation,
01:59but we clearly need to make sure that that final order is laid, but I can come back, I'm sure,
02:06in terms of confirmation on that point. I'd like to ask a little bit further about the timetable.
02:13I'm asking in council general questions, because the council general...