Key issues for the Sixth Senedd

‘What’s next? Key issues for the Sixth Senedd’ is a collection of articles analysing some of the key issues Members of the Senedd are likely to address over the next five years. It's an excellent starting point for anyone interested in getting to grips with the challenging social, economic, environmental and public policy issues facing Wales.

Articles

How can Wales get the media it needs?

Policymakers face a conundrum as to how to support a sector that is vital to democracy, but works best at a distance from those that wield democratic power.

The digital uprising

The pandemic put a stop to business as usual, pushing public services, companies, and individuals to rapidly adopt new behaviours. We’ve worked at home, shopped online, learnt remotely, and socialised from afar. The past year has also advanced the digital agenda and accelerated the speed of innovation . But what’s the role of policymakers in this increasingly virtual world? And how can inequalities caused by digital exclusion be reduced?

Social care: a system at breaking point?

The pandemic has drawn attention to the importance of the social care sector, but also demonstrated the fragility of the system. Will COVID-19 be a catalyst for change?

Girl Sitting On A Sofa With A Hot Drink.

A mentally well Wales

What are the key challenges and opportunities for improving mental health and wellbeing in Wales?

Hospital waiting times: a mountain to climb

The COVID-19 pandemic has put enormous pressure on health services, with lengthening waiting times for treatment. What can be done to tackle the backlog?

Are we at a tipping point of inequality?

The landscape of inequality exposed by the pandemic largely followed the contours of existing disadvantage. But will previous approaches to reducing inequality be enough to counter these stark imbalances, or will new strategies be needed? And what role does data - or the lack of it - play?

Is this the Brexit season finale?

For many, the announcement of a deal between the UK and EU on Christmas Eve 2020 marked the end of the long-running Brexit negotiation drama. In reality, the agreement forms the bare outline of the future relationship plot. The twists and turns of what the relationship means in practice will be a key part of the Sixth Senedd’s story.

The COVID-19 pandemic: where are we?

Over the past year we have learned more about the virus, how it spreads, what treatments are effective, and developed vaccines. But where are we on the journey of the pandemic? And what might be around the corner for the new Senedd and Welsh Government?

What’s next? Key issues for the Sixth Senedd

Today we publish a collection of articles analysing some of the key issues Members of the Senedd are likely to address over the next five years.