Manifesto Launch, Senedd elections 2026

PCS believes that members should be fully informed about the policies of those seeking their votes. We have therefore produced a set of manifesto demands outlining PCS Cymru’s key asks of prospective elected representatives, based on our democratically agreed policies. The PCS manifesto is designed for members to use when engaging with candidates – so that before votes are cast on 7 May 2026, members understand their positions and what these mean for PCS members’ employment and for our wider communities across Wales.

The manifesto was officially launched on Wednesday 17 December at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay, supported by the PCS cross-party group, chaired by Mike Hedges MS (Lab) and vice chair Heledd Fychan MS (Plaid Cymru).

PCS Wales executive committee (WEC) chair Marianne Owens opened the launch, explaining our approach for engaging with candidates. Martin Cavanagh, PCS national president’s address highlighted PCS's safe routes policy, alignment with Wales as a Nation of Sanctuary, PCS’s anti-racist and anti-fascist stance, and protecting jobs and services.  TUC Cymru general secretary, Shavannah Taj gave support and commitment to collaborative working with our union in Wales, and PCS WEC members spoke on driving policies on members’ issues, including on devolution, low pay, equality, health and safety, and wider social and international issues.

Next year’s Senedd elections are of particular significance due to major changes in the voting system during a period of political uncertainty, with new parties and candidates emerging. It can often be difficult to see through the spin. The number of Senedd members will increase from 60 to 96, and a new proportional representation system using party lists will replace the previous mixed method. Wales will be divided into 16 larger constituencies, each electing six members, ensuring that every vote carries more equal weight.

In the run up to these elections, PCS will be writing to all progressive candidates with our Manifesto pledges and sharing responses with members, and there will be a hustings event at our 2026 annual delegate conference at Wrecsam university in March.

PCS stands firmly against all forms of bigotry as we saw recently at the by-election in Caerphilly. PCS not only condemns this behaviour but will always speak out and fight against it in the interests of equality and dignity for all people living and working in Wales. There is far more that unites us across our diverse membership, and we must not fall for the misinformation spread by those seeking to weaken our trade union movement by dividing us—whether in workplaces or in our wider communities.

As well as the Manifesto document, we have produced a flyer outlining the top eight demands that members have told us are the most important to them. You can read and download both on PCS Digital.