Impact case study database

Prof. Stirbu’s research shaped debates around diversity and gender representation in Wales which has led to changes to the Senedd’s remuneration policy, improved legislative scrutiny and informed the wider discussion of participation and representation in Wales. The context in which this impact has occurred is marked by a series of constitutional and institutional developments such as: 1) Wales Act 2017 devolving powers to change electoral arrangements of the Senedd Cymru, 2) the work of the Expert Panel on Senedd’s Electoral Reform (2017) which looked at changing the electoral system in Wales, increasing the size of the Senedd, and extending the electoral franchise in Senedd elections, 3) the Remuneration Board's work on the determination for the 6th Assembly (2018-2020) and 4) the work of the Committee on Senedd Electoral Reform (2020).

The primary beneficiaries of the research include: the Remuneration Board of the Senedd, the Senedd’s Commission and the Senedd Committee on Electoral Reform. The Commission is the Senedd’s main corporate governance and leadership body - it is led by the Presiding Officer and is the initiator and sponsor of the Senedd’s reform programme. The Remuneration Board is the independent body responsible for ensuring that Members of the Senedd have the right remuneration and resources to conduct their jobs properly, while remaining accountable to the people of Wales. The Committee on Senedd Electoral Reform was established on 18 September 2019 to examine the recommendations of the Expert Panel on Assembly Electoral Reform. In addition to these primary beneficiaries, secondary beneficiaries include: Senedd Members (SMs) and officials, political parties in Wales and beyond, think-tanks operating in Wales (such as the Institute of Welsh Affairs, ERS Cymru), and political correspondents.

Impact on the Senedd’s remuneration policy (2018 - 2020) Stirbu et al’s report (Unpacking Diversity) [R3] was published in July 2018 and made 11 recommendations to the Senedd Remuneration Board. The findings informed the Board’s work and deliberations in the context of its review for the Determination on Members’ Pay and Allowances for the 6th Senedd. These discussions were held in Board meetings throughout 2018 to 2020. Consultations initiated by the Board debated the merits of the report’s recommendations, specifically changes for childcare and other care support, revision of exceptional expenses in relation to disability, job share etc [S1].

The research enhanced the Board’s understanding of specific barriers encountered by potential candidates, as well as Members on their journey from candidacy to serving in the Senedd. [S1]

The Board published its Draft Determination [S3] on 5th February 2020 and acknowledged, in its press release [S4], that Stirbu’s work on barriers and incentives to standing in Senedd elections had informed the current proposals, which are

“ ensuring that the support and remuneration offered to Members do not deter people from standing for election to the Senedd. [...] The proposals have been informed by research commissioned by the Board into the barriers and incentives to standing for election to the Senedd” [S4].

In particular, the consultation report on part three of the Review of Determination [S8] discusses in great detail the recommendations made by Stirbu et al. The findings and recommendations that have been considered and ultimately incorporated in the Draft Determination include the following improvements to SMs’ remuneration package:

• That the salary level for SMs is appropriate.

• Revision of exceptional expenses system (disability) - The Draft determination includes an allowance for Members to help meet costs in relation to a disability or disabilities.

• Revision of child care and care support for SMs to reflect Senedd’s Sitting time and working hours - The Draft Determination proposes a contribution towards care costs for children and/or dependents when Members are required to work beyond normal hours.

The Final Determination was published in June 2020 and will take effect in May 2021 after the Senedd elections.

Assisting the legislative scrutiny process

Within Welsh politics, questions about the Senedd's small size and capacity implications for diversity have been debated for the two decades since the institution was founded. Stirbu has been a significant contributor to this evidence base since 2007 and, over the years, her contributions have been called upon at various inflection points in Wales’ constitutional journey.

Most recently, in January 2020, Stirbu appeared as an expert witness in front of the Committee on Senedd Electoral Reform. Stirbu emphasized the implications of ongoing limited Senedd capacity on the diversity of candidates it may attract in the next elections, raising the issue of increased workload for the 6th Senedd in the context of Brexit. Stirbu also played back the findings of the Unpacking Diversity Report [R3] to the committee members. During the proceedings [S8], committee members used previous work on institutional capacity [R5] by Stirbu et al to inform their questions to the panel witnesses. Additionally, during the deliberations of the same committee, evidence from Stirbu et al’s research [R3] was cited by Prof. Rosie Campbell during her response questions on diversity implications of an enlarged Assembly [section 106 S10]. Moreover, the Committee’s report [S9] makes 12 references to Stirbu’s oral evidence and quotes her contribution to the debate on diversity:

Professor Stirbu suggested that consideration needed to be given to both non-political and party political mentoring for candidates or people who might be interested in becoming candidates. In its response to our consultation, Welsh Labour suggested that grants should be made available to political parties wishing to support or mentor people from underrepresented groups with a view to increasing participation in party politics or candidate diversity. [Section 239 of S9]

The committees’ report recommendations rehearse at least three of the recommendations made by Stirbu (with Awan-Scully and Pritchard around diversity), including further consideration of job-share, the creation of an access to politics fund to support people with disabilities, rules on childcare support and expenses [S9]. The 6^th Senedd (from May 2021) will look at the implementation of the committee’s recommendations.

Contributing to wider understanding of political participation and representation in Wales beyond the academy (2014-2018)

Stirbu’s research findings have also been used more widely, beyond the academy. Her research findings have informed the work of NGOs (ERS Cymru, Institute of Welsh Affairs). One such example comes from the ERS Cymru, an independent campaigning organisation advocating for voters’ rights, and the Welsh Branch of the UK-wide Electoral Reform Society, whose registered subscriber numbers for 2019 reached 56,400. The ERS Cymru’s 2018 report New Voices [S6] endorses one of the recommendations put forth by Stirbu et al. In her testimonial, Jess Blair, the Director of ERS Cymru, notes that

“It is clear that this research [R3] has offered evidence that other organisations, such as ourselves, have learned from and developed further thinking on and as such has had a clear impact on the diversity agenda in Wales” [S2].

Furthermore, election analysis (from both Stirbu and McAllister) prior and after (Stirbu) the 2017 General elections, was featured in commentary in the media. The BBC News website (with 40,584 unique visits) also ran a piece [S5] on the number of female Welsh MPs, with commentary from Stirbu, who clarified structural factors explaining discrepancies between the UK Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales in terms of gender representation.