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| Vaughan Gething resigns as first minister of Wales | Vaughan Gething resigns as first minister of Wales |
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| Resignation comes after four Welsh ministers stepped down in apparent attempt to force his hand | Resignation comes after four Welsh ministers stepped down in apparent attempt to force his hand |
| Vaughan Gething has announced he is quitting as first minister of Wales following a brief and turbulent period in the job after his fate was sealed by the resignation of four members of his cabinet. | |
| Gething has faced a series of controversies, including over donations and claims he sought to delete sensitive messages, since he took over from Mark Drakeford as first minister and the leader of Welsh Labour in March. | Gething has faced a series of controversies, including over donations and claims he sought to delete sensitive messages, since he took over from Mark Drakeford as first minister and the leader of Welsh Labour in March. |
| Responding to the news, Plaid Cymru called for a snap Senedd election, while the Welsh Conservatives said Keir Starmer was “culpable for the breakdown in governance in Wales” for having backed the first minister. | Responding to the news, Plaid Cymru called for a snap Senedd election, while the Welsh Conservatives said Keir Starmer was “culpable for the breakdown in governance in Wales” for having backed the first minister. |
| Starmer said Gething should “take enormous pride in being the first black leader of any country in Europe”, but said he accepted the first minister’s decision that it was best for Wales he stepped down. | |
| Gething lost a vote of confidence in the Senedd in June, but refused to quit. His hand was forced, however, after four ministers resigned from the Welsh government on Tuesday, all of them urging Gething to stand down, saying his position was untenable. | Gething lost a vote of confidence in the Senedd in June, but refused to quit. His hand was forced, however, after four ministers resigned from the Welsh government on Tuesday, all of them urging Gething to stand down, saying his position was untenable. |
| Among them was Jeremy Miles, the economy secretary, who lost narrowly to Gething in the race to succeed Drakeford. While he is likely to be one of the favourites to take over, Welsh Labour insiders said there may be a push to find an alternative unity candidate. | |
| In a statement later on Tuesday, Gething wrote: “I have this morning taken the difficult decision to begin the process of stepping down as leader of the Welsh Labour party and, as a result, first minister. | In a statement later on Tuesday, Gething wrote: “I have this morning taken the difficult decision to begin the process of stepping down as leader of the Welsh Labour party and, as a result, first minister. |
| “Having been elected as leader of my party in March, I had hoped that over the summer a period of reflection, rebuilding and renewal could take place under my leadership. I recognise now that this is not possible.” | “Having been elected as leader of my party in March, I had hoped that over the summer a period of reflection, rebuilding and renewal could take place under my leadership. I recognise now that this is not possible.” |
| After thanking those who supported him, Gething hit out at his critics. “A growing assertion that some kind of wrongdoing has taken place has been pernicious, politically motivated and patently untrue,” he said. “In 11 years as a minister, I have never ever made a decision for personal gain. I have never ever misused or abused my ministerial responsibilities.” | After thanking those who supported him, Gething hit out at his critics. “A growing assertion that some kind of wrongdoing has taken place has been pernicious, politically motivated and patently untrue,” he said. “In 11 years as a minister, I have never ever made a decision for personal gain. I have never ever misused or abused my ministerial responsibilities.” |
| His statement also indicated that he felt he had been targeted in part because of his race, as he said: “To those in Wales who look like me, many of whom I know feel personally bruised and worried by this moment, I know that our country can be better. I know that cannot happen without us.” | His statement also indicated that he felt he had been targeted in part because of his race, as he said: “To those in Wales who look like me, many of whom I know feel personally bruised and worried by this moment, I know that our country can be better. I know that cannot happen without us.” |
| Gething said he would set out a timetable for the election of new leader of the Welsh Labour party. | Gething said he would set out a timetable for the election of new leader of the Welsh Labour party. |
| Later on Tuesday, Gething delivered the statement in person to the Senedd and took part in first minister’s questions. | Later on Tuesday, Gething delivered the statement in person to the Senedd and took part in first minister’s questions. |
| The Welsh Conservative leader, Andrew RT Davies, told the Senedd that Gething refused to shake his hand when it was offered this morning, and asked the first minister what led to his resignation. | |
| Gething responded: “I am very clear about my own integrity. I am very clear about the reality that today has meant that it’s not possible to carry on to be the first minister.” | |
| Davies asked him if he believed Labour could continue to deliver its mandate in the Senedd. | Davies asked him if he believed Labour could continue to deliver its mandate in the Senedd. |
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| “Of course,” Gething said. “I am proud of my record and all the things I have done before coming here and since coming here in 11 years of being a minister. I am sad that today sees the start of that process coming to an end, but I remain full of optimism what this place could do, and about what Welsh Labour leadership can provide to my country and all the people who are proud to call Wales their home.” | |
| Drakeford had stepped down aged 69 after more than five years in the role, a year after the death of his wife. | Drakeford had stepped down aged 69 after more than five years in the role, a year after the death of his wife. |
| The confidence vote in June was called by the Conservatives over £200,000 of donations made to Gething’s leadership campaign by a company owned by a man previously convicted of environmental offences. | The confidence vote in June was called by the Conservatives over £200,000 of donations made to Gething’s leadership campaign by a company owned by a man previously convicted of environmental offences. |
| Gething has also come under pressure over the sacking of Hannah Blythyn from her role as the minister for social partnership, alleging she was the source of leaked text messages that appeared to show he had advocated deleting messages during the Covid pandemic. | |
| Starmer thanked Gething for his ministerial service, saying he “will have broadened the ambitions and raised the gaze of a generation of young people in Wales and beyond”. He added: “I know what a difficult decision this has been for him – but I also know that he has made it because he feels it is the best decision now for Wales. I wish him all the best in his future endeavours.” | Starmer thanked Gething for his ministerial service, saying he “will have broadened the ambitions and raised the gaze of a generation of young people in Wales and beyond”. He added: “I know what a difficult decision this has been for him – but I also know that he has made it because he feels it is the best decision now for Wales. I wish him all the best in his future endeavours.” |
| In this month’s Westminster election, Labour took 27 of the 32 Welsh seats. In the 60-seat Senedd, the party holds 30 of the 60 places, with five more held by the Labour and Co-operative party. | |
| Rhun ap Iorwerth, the Plaid leader, called for immediate Senedd elections, which are not due until May 2026. “The people of Wales have lost faith in the first minister – belatedly he has done that right thing and resigned,” he said. | Rhun ap Iorwerth, the Plaid leader, called for immediate Senedd elections, which are not due until May 2026. “The people of Wales have lost faith in the first minister – belatedly he has done that right thing and resigned,” he said. |
| “Labour has put party interests ahead of the interests of the nation for too long. The people of Wales must be given the opportunity to elect a new government and an election must be called.” | “Labour has put party interests ahead of the interests of the nation for too long. The people of Wales must be given the opportunity to elect a new government and an election must be called.” |
| Davies said: “Vaughan Gething’s resignation is long overdue. But there can be no doubt that his Labour colleagues, from those who resigned today all the way up to Keir Starmer, have stood by his side, and are culpable for the breakdown in governance in Wales. Wales will remember.” |