Lying ban for politicians in Wales prompts free speech fears

"A proposed law to make it illegal for politicians to lie during Welsh elections contains "extraordinary" powers that would limit free speech, Senedd members have warned. The bill will be debated in the Senedd on Tuesday but members, including those in Labour, have said it could fail to get enough support without significant changes like defining what a "false or misleading" statement would be."

"The Welsh Labour government want to make it a criminal offence to make false or misleading statements of fact to help an election candidate. In a statement it said the legislation "sets out to build stronger foundations for Welsh democracy". Ministers had vowed to take action against lying among politics after a similar proposal almost became law against the Welsh government's wishes last year. Supporters of a ban on lying have argued that it could help rebuild trust and confidence in political institutions."

"The ban would not be ready for the next election in May and would not come into force until the 2030 election at the earliest - although there is no timescale and one minister has suggested that even that date may not be achievable. The bill has prompted two damning reports from two cross-party Senedd committees, with the legislation committee warning that the way it was written risked allowing a future government to "seriously hinder full and proper democratic discourse during an election campaign"."

A proposed law would criminalise making false or misleading statements of fact to help an election candidate in Wales. The legislation aims to build stronger foundations for democracy but has raised concerns that its extraordinary powers could limit free speech. The bill does not define what constitutes a false or misleading statement, to whom it would apply, or how enforcement would work, instead requiring ministers to create the criminal offence after passage. Two cross-party Senedd committees produced damning reports warning the drafting risks hindering democratic discourse and that the bill may not gain sufficient Senedd support without significant amendments. Implementation is not expected before 2030.

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