**Social Media Missteps Remain Top Source of Complaints Against Senedd Members, Standards Commissioner Reveals**
The Senedd’s Commissioner for Standards has drawn attention to a recurring problem concerning Members of the Senedd (MSs): their conduct on social media continues to provoke a significant number of complaints from the public. According to the most recent annual report by Douglas Bain, inappropriate or questionable behaviour online was responsible for the largest share of formal complaints received during the year spanning April 2024 to March 2025.
In total, 136 official complaints were lodged against MSs during that period—a notable decrease of 33% compared with 190 complaints recorded in the previous year. Despite this improvement, concerns persist, particularly around members’ use of digital platforms to communicate with the public and each other.
Of the complaints registered, a substantial 44 were directly linked to social media activity. This comes despite repeated warnings and training efforts, underlining the challenges that elected politicians face as they attempt to balance direct engagement with appropriate online conduct. Other frequent sources of complaint included the standard of service provided by MSs (15 cases), conduct in plenary sessions or in ministerial capacities (22 cases), and failures to update declared interests on time (12 cases).
Additional complaints addressed a broad array of topics, including disagreements with government policies, but these often fell outside the remit of the commissioner’s office. Mr Bain described the continued high volume of complaints about online conduct as “disturbing”, particularly given the measures already in place to guide members’ behaviour on social media.
According to the commissioner’s report, warning sessions for members and their staff have been held to highlight the risks of poor or inflammatory conduct online. However, the outcome has not yet lived up to expectations. “I appreciate that social media is a key tool for some members. It is, however, disturbing that despite the warnings given […] complaints about conduct on social media continue to be so numerous,” stated Mr Bain. To tackle this issue, he has recommended that bespoke social media training be developed for MSs and their staff, especially with an influx of new politicians anticipated after the 2026 elections.
This recommendation takes on greater significance as the Senedd prepares for expansion. Following the passing of the Senedd Reform law in 2024, the number of seats will rise from 60 to 96 after the next election, representing an increase in both the number and diversity of members. With building works already in progress to accommodate this change, concerns grow that social media missteps could become more frequent unless urgent action is taken.
Despite these persistent concerns, the standards commissioner struck an overall positive note in the annual review. Mr Bain expressed satisfaction with the broader conduct of Senedd members, stating, “I am satisfied that the conduct of Members of the Senedd remains at a high standard and compares very favourably with their counterparts at Westminster, Edinburgh and Belfast.” Nevertheless, he reiterated the specific challenge posed by online commentary, noting that “alleged inappropriate comments by members on social media continues to be a cause for concern.”
The commissioner’s primary role is to investigate and report on any breaches of the Senedd’s code of conduct or related obligations by elected members. The annual report highlights ongoing support and guidance for MSs as they navigate an evolving political and communications landscape, particularly as digital engagement becomes an ever more prominent aspect of public life.
As the Senedd faces a period of transition, the hope is that renewed training and awareness efforts will reduce the number of complaints and help new and returning members alike uphold the high standards expected of elected officials—both in the Chamber and online. Looking ahead, all eyes will be on both the effectiveness of these measures and whether public trust can be maintained as the Welsh Parliament expands in both size and scope.