STUDENTS of rock music will be familiar with Bachman-Turner Overdrive’s 1970s hit You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet.

You can start humming the tune if you like; it may come to be the theme music to the changes afoot in the Welsh Senedd (Parliament).

In the political world (where nothing is certain), one thing is certain – the Welsh Senedd of 2026 will be substantially different to what it is today.

You’ll start to notice the changes next month, when work starts to kit out the Senedd chamber for an additional 36 new members.

Did we ask for 96 Senedd members?

I can’t remember submitting a request.

How much is it all going to cost?

Er . . . we don’t really know.

The last bit seems reasonably important as the most recent bits of mail dropping through the letterbox here at Lloyd HQ have been about coughing up more money.

County council tax increases, water bills up by 20 per cent, energy bills still heading north . . . even our local community council decided on a 30 per cent increase in its precept this week.

I guess we are expected to take it all on the chin and not complain, but there’s no harm in having a bit of a whinge.

For now, let’s stick with the Senedd expansion for a good old-fashioned moan.

Yes, the Senedd will say there has been some ‘consultation’, but it seems to have by-passed my street.

The law to increase the size of the Senedd was passed in 2024. The changes will happen at the time of the next Welsh election in 2026.

There will be new faces galore in the Senedd ‘Class of 2026’ as loads of current members have announced their intention of ‘retiring’ at the next election.

In short, here’s what’s changing –

• From the election in May 2026, the Senedd will have 96 members (instead of 60).
• Everyone aged 16-plus will now have one vote, choosing a political party or independent candidate.
• Wales will have 16 constituencies (instead of the current 40). Each constituency will elect six members.
• Anyone standing for election must live in Wales.

The new constituencies have new (old) Welsh names. For example, we have Sir Gaerfyrddin (for Carmarthenshire), Gwyr Abertawe (Swansea) and Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd and Afan Ogwr Rhondda for the eastern end of the Evening Post’s patch.

If the changes to constituency boundaries fail to confuse the average voter, then the voting system will probably tip most of you over the edge.

Members of the Senedd will be elected through a closed proportional list system, where voters choose either a political party or an independent candidate.

If a party or independent candidate wins enough votes in your constituency, they will win one or more seats in the Senedd. Seats will be allocated based on the percentage of votes each party or independent candidate receives, using a method called the D’Hondt formula.

Space doesn’t allow me to explain the D’Hondt formula. As I only narrowly passed my ‘O Level’ mathematics exam, the whole thing is beyond the computing capacity of my brain.

The Senedd’s own website has this to say about why all this is necessary –

‘It is  . . .  important to remember that over the last quarter century of devolution, the Senedd has changed a lot. It now has greater powers to pass laws in many more areas which affect your daily life in Wales, and set some Welsh taxes.

‘Despite having much more to do, the number of members has not changed since 1999. The 2026 election will return the members needed to more effectively consider new laws and look at Welsh Government spending in greater detail.

‘This will mean better representation for you, your family and your community, with more elected members to check the work and spending of the Welsh Government.’

Read a bit further into the Senedd’s ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ and you find this treasure about how much it will all cost –

‘This is the biggest change to the Senedd since it was established in 1999. The total costs of these changes are not yet known as they are dependent on things like how new Senedd members will want the Senedd to operate after the 2026 election.

‘Throughout the process, the Senedd Commission aims to provide maximum benefits and value for money. The Senedd Commission’s Budget 2025-26 proposes a 16% increase in spending to support a 60% increase in Members.

These estimates will be kept under constant review, and cost savings will be made wherever possible.’

The ‘cost savings’ bit will surely make for an interesting spectator sport as the builders start work on the Senedd’s debating chamber, the Siambr, in Cardiff Bay.

As you see the new desks and IT equipment being installed, just reflect on what it all means.

Yes, someone will have to pay for it all.

And that someone is us.

Tagged Carmarthen, newspaper column, newspaper columnist, newspaper columns, Robert Lloyd, South Wales Evening Post, Swansea