What really stops people from standing for election in Wales?
The Welsh Government has published a new report on why many people feel politics is not for them.
The study, written by Alma Economics, looked at the problems faced by people from poorer backgrounds or groups that are often left out of politics.
It found that money, time, confidence, and discrimination are the biggest obstacles.
Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, Jayne Bryant MS, said she wanted to understand these barriers and make it easier for everyone to take part in democracy.
What disadvantage means
The report says socio-economic disadvantage means living in harder conditions than most people in society. This can mean:
living in a deprived area
having little or no income or savings
facing material hardship, like struggling to pay bills or buy essentials
Experts added that disadvantage often comes alongside other challenges. This can include disability, caring duties, gender, or ethnicity. When these are combined with poverty, the barriers to politics grow even stronger.
Lack of confidence and knowledge
The first obstacle is recruitment – how people get into politics.
Many people do not know enough about how politics works. Some never had lessons in school about democracy, voting, or the Senedd. Cuts to school budgets also mean fewer trips to visit political institutions.
This leaves young people, especially those from poorer areas, less likely to see politics as something for them.
Citizens told researchers that politics felt confusing, closed-off, and intimidating. Even people active in their local community often felt they were “not good enough” to stand for office.
Councillors agreed there was a “confidence gap” and said good community leaders often hold back from applying.
Problems with money and time
The biggest issue is resources – the money and time needed to run for office.
Standing for election can be expensive. Candidates often pay for travel, leaflets, childcare, and IT equipment. Losing a seat can also mean losing income.
One councillor worked out that, once costs were taken into account, the job sometimes paid less than 50p an hour.
For people on low wages, taking time off work to campaign is impossible. Parents and carers said they would have to “give something up” to stand for election.
Experts said this is why many councillors are older, retired, or self-employed men. They can afford the cost and the time.
Facing prejudice and hostility
The third obstacle is reaction – how parties, voters, and the public treat candidates.
Some said they felt shut out of party selection processes. In some cases, candidates from minority or working-class backgrounds were encouraged to apply but not put forward in winnable seats.
Discrimination can be subtle. One candidate was told they were “not representative of the majority.”
Abuse, especially online, is also a major issue. Women and minority ethnic candidates often face more hostility. One person said the threat of personal attacks was enough to stop them standing at all.
People with money can sometimes pay for security, but those without are left vulnerable.
Bigger system challenges
The report also looked at how the system itself makes things harder.
Some experts said political parties should lead change. But others believed the Welsh Government was better placed to act fairly.
Ideas put forward included:
- better pay for councillors
- allowing two people to “job-share” a role
- a new “Right to Run” law, giving staff time off work to stand for election
There were also calls for clearer, simpler guidance on how to stand as a candidate. Many said the current process feels unclear and unwelcoming.
12 recommendations
The report makes 12 key recommendations:
- Invest more in mentoring and training, such as the Equal Power Equal Voice scheme.
- Publish clear and simple guidance on standing for election.
- Encourage civic education and wider community engagement.
- Offer childcare at meetings and make more use of online access.
- Create a fund to help candidates with caring responsibilities.
- Challenge stereotypes about how politicians should look or dress.
- Consider a “Right to Run” law for employees.
- Get employers to value councillor experience as a skill.
- Offer some pay-back scheme for candidates who lose income while campaigning.
- Extend resettlement grants to councillors who lose their seats.
- Review councillor pay and roles, including the option of full-time posts.
- Take stronger action on intimidation and abuse of candidates.
Voices from the ground
The report includes comments from people across Wales.
One citizen said: “The cash is a big thing, especially in this economy. We need as much support as we can and especially for people that come from my kind of background where we don’t have the extra cash to be thrown around to do these sorts of things.”
Another said: “You have to lose something in order to stand. You have to decide you’re ready to lose something.”
Why it matters
Experts warn that if politics is only open to certain groups, councils and the Senedd will miss out on the views of ordinary working people. This can lead to poor decisions and lower trust in democracy.
More diverse councils and parliaments, they argue, would make better decisions and inspire new generations.
What happens next
Cabinet Secretary Jayne Bryant MS said she is considering how to use the findings to improve access to politics in Wales.
She said the Government is determined to make sure “everyone, no matter their background or circumstances, has the opportunity to fully participate in democracy.”
The work will feed into diversity plans ahead of the 2026 Senedd election.
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