The election in Wales on May 7th for the Senedd will produce many changes all round, there will be a new voting system and new constituencies. Gone is the old system of 40 constituencies each with one representative and 20 members elected from five regional seats, 60 members in all. To be replaced with 16 new constituencies each electing six members elected on a proportional system, 96 members in total. Electors will no longer have one vote for the candidate of their choice but one vote for a Party, or independent candidate, of their choice, with the list of candidates for each party being chosen by the Party itself. The only stipulation is that you must live in Wales. The voting age is also being lowered to 16 so many, new, first-time voters.
This requires prayer for clarity and insight for all voters.
15 of the sitting 40 members have already signalled they will step down 1 Conservative and 14 Labour members and if Political poles are to be believed several standing members may lose their seat. Given that each member employs usually between 4/5 staff there is a strong possibility of upwards of 60 households losing one source of income (not including members households).
For officers and staff employed by the Senedd this election could signal a major change. Please pray a blessing on those standing down, their staff and families and pray a blessing on ALL candidates standing and their families.
The heart of the National Prayer Breakfast for Wales is that we pray for ALL candidates to encounter God during this election to recognise that encounter and respond to it. Our desire is to see a Godly, righteous government in and for Wales and all her inhabitants.
BUT not only is the electoral system changing, the “mood” of Wales seems to have changed as well. Since the establishment of the Senedd in 1999 Wales has only ever had a Labour Government. Now that seems to have changed, with Plaid Cymru tipped to become the largest Party and Labour, Conservatives and Liberals relegated to smaller party status with Reform becoming the second biggest Party.
This is leading to a very polarised campaign between two parties at opposite ends of the scale in their outlook on Wales as an entity with its own language, culture and inheritance.
Please pray for the light of God to shine through this campaign, especially on social media, exposing lies and highlighting truth.
And… God has created us as a multifaceted nation, where all parts need to recognise and value differences while walking together as one into the future God has for us. Pray for Wales to stand again as a Nation filled with the Glory of God whatever the systems devised by man try to show.
Janet Ryder
Secretary National Prayer Breakfast for Wales
