Welsh government: Plans for more gender equal Senedd dropped

The plans, proposed when Mark Drakeford was first minister, had already proved controversial with questions over their lawfulness, and whether the Senedd had the power to make the change.

MSs will debate and vote on a motion to withdraw the bill from further consideration on 24 September.

Hutt said that on Tuesday “the first minister will set out her policy and legislative priorities for the remainder of this Senedd term, indicating those areas where the Welsh government will now focus its full energy in delivering tangible outcomes for the people of Wales”.

She said: “As a result, we are looking across the government at areas where we can implement our policy and legislative objectives in a more practical and timely way.”

The government says it will now “accelerate” new guidance to political parties on diversity and inclusion.

The Llywydd or presiding officer, Elin Jones, had previously cast doubt on whether the Senedd had the power to implement the new law.

It was split from wider plans to expand the Senedd to 96 members, which have now been given Royal Assent.

The Welsh government disagreed with Jones’s legal advice.