Prospective
(1)Section 13 of the Government of Wales Act 2006 (c. 32) (power of the Welsh Ministers to make provision about elections etc.) is amended as follows.
(2)In subsection (2)(c), omit “(and the creation of criminal offences in connection with the limitation of such expenses)”.
(3)After subsection (2) insert—
“(2A)The Welsh Ministers must make provision, of the kind that may be made under subsection (1)(a), prohibiting the making or publishing of false or misleading statements of fact before or during an election for the purpose of affecting the return of any candidate.
(2B)The provision required by subsection (2A) may include, in particular, provision—
(a)about what is or is not a statement of fact;
(b)prohibiting false statements only or both false and misleading statements;
(c)specifying the period in which any prohibition has effect;
(d)prohibiting false or misleading statements of fact relating to matters specified in the order or matters generally;
(e)prohibiting false or misleading statements of fact made or published by persons or categories of person specified in the order or any person;
(f)prohibiting the making or publishing of false or misleading statements knowingly or recklessly;
(g)specifying exemptions or exceptions to any prohibition.”
(4)After subsection (4) insert—
“(4A)For the avoidance of doubt, an order under this section may—
(a)confer a power or duty on any person (including a power or duty to make subordinate legislation);
(b)create criminal offences.”
Commencement Information
I1S. 24 in force at 27.6.2026, see s. 26(2)