Wales’ first minister Vaughan Gething resigns as ministers quit

26 minutes ago

The first minister of Wales, Vaughan Gething, has announced his resignation, only four months after taking the job.

It comes after three of his Welsh government ministers and his top legal adviser dramatically released resignation statements, calling for him to stand down.

Mr Gething has been embroiled in controversy since he took over in March, and has been dogged by questions over a £200,000 campaign donation from a businessman convicted of environmental offences.

In his resignation statement he denied wrongdoing, adding: “I regret that the burden of proof is no longer an important commodity in the language of our politics.”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer thanked Mr Gething for his service as leader, adding: “I know what a difficult decision this has been for him, but I also know he has made it because he feels it is the best decision now for Wales.”

Cabinet members Mick Antoniw, Lesley Griffiths, Julie James and Jeremy Miles all resigned from their positions on Tuesday morning, and called on Mr Gething to quit.

Just before his resignation, Mr Gething had released evidence he said he relied upon when he took the decision to sack Hannah Blythyn as a minister, who he claimed had leaked messages from a ministerial group chat to the media.

His sacking of Ms Blythyn was one of the controversies which increased pressure on him.

Mr Gething said he had hoped that over the summer, “rebuilding and renewal could take place under my leadership”.

“I recognise now that this is not possible,” he added, and it had been the most difficult time “for me and my family”.

“A growing assertion that some kind of wrongdoing has taken place has been pernicious, politically motivated and patently untrue.

“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.”

On Tuesday afternoon, ahead of First Minister’s Questions in the Senedd, Mr Gething made a speech outlining his intention to resign. He received polite applause and desk tapping from some Members of the Senedd (MSs).

Welsh Conservative Senedd group leader Andrew RT Davies said the resignation was “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,” he said.

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth called for a snap Welsh Parliament election. The next election is due in 2026.

He said: “The people of Wales must be given the opportunity to elect a new government and an election must be called.”

Jane Dodds, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, said it was a sad day.

“We must really focus in on looking after those who have been affected, the first minister and anyone else who has been affected,” she said.

“It was going to happen at some point, but again we need to make sure everybody’s is ok in this and we need to respect the process.”

Huw Irranca Davies, climate change and rural affairs minister, said Mr Gething had made a “brave decision” to step down, adding it was a “desperately sad day”.

Mr Iranca Davies said he had not planned to resign, after four other members of Vaughan Gething’s cabinet did so.

“I’m reflecting at the moment on the track record of Vaughan, who I have known for many many years, and what Vaughan has done in terms of trying to focus on leading this Senedd and leading this government.”

Two-thirds of the Senedd would need to vote for its dissolution for a snap election to be called. Labour holds 30 of the 60 seats.

Mr Gething made history in March when he became the first black leader of a national government in Europe, something Sir Keir said would “broaden the ambitions and raise the gaze of a generation of young people in Wales and beyond.”

His election was announced on 16 March, exactly four months before his resignation announcement, and 118 days after he was sworn in as first minister.

But ongoing controversy led to the collapse of a co-operation agreement between Labour and Plaid Cymru, and he subsequently lost a non-binding vote of no confidence in the Senedd.

In Hannah Blythyn’s constituency of Delyn in Mold, Flintshire, residents said the first minister’s resignation was not a surprise.

Karen McDonaugh-Nicholls, of Mold, said: “I think it’s probably the right thing to do. As soon as those question marks appeared around taking that money for a campaign then I think his days were numbered actually.”

Richard Oates, of Lixwm, added: “He had quite a lot to answer to, he ought to return the money frankly.”

On Hannah Blythyn, Mr Oates thought Mr Gething had treated the ex-minister “badly”.

Meanwhile in Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan – which is within Mr Gething’s own constituency – Linda Kidby said she thought the first minister had “done a lot of good” in his political career, but added he was “on borrowed time” in the role.

Mike Collins, also from Penarth, said Mr Gething “could have saved his career” if he had resigned sooner.

Mr Gething’s resignation announcement triggers the second Welsh Labour leadership contest of the year.

Jeremy Miles – who narrowly lost to Mr Gething in the previous leadership campaign – has been spoken of as a potential candidate, although he has not yet said publicly he would run again.

He may face someone from the group of people who have supported Mr Gething, although it is not clear at this stage who that might be.

Mr Gething will have to formally resign to the King and the Labour group will need to decide a timetable.