The next group is group 2. The second group of amendments relates to trigger event B, recall guidance. Amendment 20 is the lead amendment, and I call on Paul Davies to move the lead amendment.

Amendment 20 (Sam Rowlands) moved.

Diolch, Llywydd. I move Amendment 20 in the name of my colleague Sam Rowlands, as permitted under Standing Order 26.65.

Amendment 20 requires recall guidance to be approved by the Senedd before being issued, and it requires that any resolution under section 5(8) of the Bill must be approved by a two-thirds Majority of the Senedd. The legislation currently states that the Standards of Conduct Committee may not issue recall guidance unless a draft of the guidance has been approved by a resolution of the Senedd, and we believe that that majority should be at least two thirds of the votes cast. As my colleague Sam Rowlands made clear during Stage 2 proceedings of this Bill, this amendment, we believe, would strengthen procedures and would align with any proposed changes to Standing Orders in the Senedd. As the Counsel General said herself at Stage 1, and I quote:

'Changes to Standing Orders currently require a two-thirds majority, and so the Bill is simply reflecting the current parliamentary Commission's view of how that should happen.'

I appreciate that the Welsh Government didn't have a firm view on this, but given the seriousness of a situation that requires recall guidance, we believe that a two-thirds majority should be sought. Therefore, I hope Members will support our amendment.

I would like to start by clearly stating Plaid Cymru's support for this Bill. We are living through a very challenging time for our democracy. I came into politics because I believed in its potential to do good, to improve people's lives and to serve the public, and I hope that that is the case for all of us here.

But we must also recognise why so many people today feel disillusioned and entirely cynical about politics. That feeling has not just appeared from nowhere; it stems from a growing perception that politicians are not always held to the same standards as the rest of society.

The behaviour of successive Westminster Governments—in red and blue—has affirmed those perceptions, regrettably, and I think that's a challenge for all of us in this Chamber. Being an elected representative is a privilege. But with that privilege comes a clear responsibility: to behave honestly, to be accountable, and to earn the trust of the public. This Bill tries to emphasise that responsibility and incorporate it into legislation.

Before turning to the amendments, I'd like to thank Lewis Owen, senior researcher in the Plaid Cymru group, and my colleague Adam Price, for their detailed work on this Bill, and to the committee clerks and support staff for their assistance.

The purpose of my Amendment in this group is to make it a requirement that the Standards of Conduct Committee consider providing, in its guidelines, specific examples of conduct that would lead to recommending a recall poll. The hope is that this will provide clarity in terms of expectations and standards of unacceptable conduct, and therefore ensure that ambiguity cannot impair the efficiency of the accountability mechanisms of the Bill.

While it was not possible, in practice, to include specific examples on the face of the Bill, we would very much hope that the committee will include examples such as harassment and sexual violence in its guidelines, especially bearing in mind the challenges that continue to face women in politics, and how misogynistic attitudes continue to be a barrier to increasing female representation in our democratic institutions.

I'm grateful in this respect for the constructive engagement with the Counsel General on this amendment since Stage 2, and I'm pleased that we've managed to reach an agreement on wording that achieves the aim. I therefore ask Members to support the amendment. 

The Counsel General to contribute—Julie James. 

Diolch, Llywydd. I would like to start by thanking Members for their very constructive engagement on amendments following the Stage 2 proceedings. As I have said many times during the passage of this Bill, I believe it's important to ensure, as far as possible, we reach a consensus on how these provisions should operate.

In respect of Amendment 20, I do completely understand Paul Davies's position that the recall guidance should be approved by a two-thirds Majority in the Senedd. In fact, as he said, that was the position in the Bill as introduced. However, having taken evidence at Stage 1, the Member Accountability Bill Committee concluded by a majority that a simple majority was a more appropriate threshold. I've accepted the committee's conclusion that a simple majority requirement aligns more closely with the processes in place to amend or revise the code of conduct.

As with the majority of the recommendations made at Stage 1, I worked with members of the committee to bring forward amendments at Stage 2 to give effect to that change, and those amendments were agreed by the committee. In the light of the views expressed by the Senedd at both Stages of this Bill so far, I will not be supporting this amendment to re-establish the two-thirds majority requirement.

Amendment 10 would place a requirement on the Standards of Conduct Committee to consider, including within the recall guidance, examples or types of conduct that may result in the committee recommending a recall sanction. I do believe this approach strikes the right balance. It creates an expectation that such examples will be considered, but it also ensures that the committee is not constrained in what they include in the recall guidance. The committee will be able to use its discretion when adjudicating on the individual circumstances regarding the conduct of a Member, including when recommending to the Senedd any potential sanction. I'm very grateful to Sioned for having worked with me on this amendment, and I will be supporting this amendment in the name of Sioned Williams. Diolch. 

Paul Davies to reply. 

Diolch, Llywydd. I'm grateful to Sioned Williams and the Counsel General for their contributions. I appreciate what has been said, but we on this side of the Chamber do not believe a simple Majority is sufficient, given the seriousness of issuing recall guidance, and so I look to move Amendment 20 tabled in the name of Sam Rowlands. We will also be supporting amendment 10 in the name of Sioned Williams.

The question, therefore, is that Amendment 20 be agreed to. Does any Member object? [Objection.] There are objections. We will therefore move to a vote on amendment 20. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 13, no abstentions and 38 against. Therefore, the amendment is not agreed.

Amendment 20: For: 13, Against: 38, Abstain: 0

Amendment has been rejected

Amendment 10 is next. Is it moved by Sioned Williams? Is it formally moved, Sioned Williams?

Amendment 10 (Sioned Williams) moved.

It is. 

It is. The question is that Amendment 10 be agreed to. Does any Member object? No. Amendment 10 is therefore agreed.

Amendment agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Amendment 2. Is it moved? 

Is it being moved, Counsel General?

Amendment 2 (Julie James) moved.

Yes. 

Yes, it is.

The question is that Amendment 2 be agreed to. Does any Member object? No. Amendment 2 is therefore agreed.

Amendment agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.