Vaughan Gething has announced his resignation as Wales’s First Minister, marking a significant shift in the Welsh government. The decision comes amid mounting pressure and controversy surrounding his leadership.
In a statement, Gething said: “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. It has been the honour of my life to do this job even for a few short months.”
Gething’s resignation follows significant criticism and internal discord, particularly regarding a controversial £200,000 donation to his leadership campaign. This controversy led to the resignation of four Welsh government ministers who expressed their inability to continue their roles under Gething’s leadership.
The four ministers—Mick Antoniw, Julie James, Lesley Griffiths, and Jeremy Miles—quit in protest, urging Gething to stand down. Their departure underscored the growing dissent within the Welsh Labour Party.
Gething was elected to succeed Mark Drakeford as leader of Welsh Labour in March. However, his tenure has been fraught with challenges, including a non-binding vote of no confidence in the Senedd (Welsh parliament) last month, which he narrowly lost 29-27.
During the confidence debate, Gething dismissed the motion as a “gimmick,” attributing the close vote to the absence of two Labour members due to illness and the opposition parties’ refusal to balance the votes through a pairing arrangement.
Critics of Gething’s leadership pointed to the £200,000 donation from the company of a man previously convicted of environmental offences. While Gething maintained that the donation was within the rules and properly declared, calls for an inquiry into the matter persisted. Gething opted instead for a broader review into political donations.
Further controversy arose from accusations that Gething had misled the COVID Inquiry. A leaked text message from August 2020 revealed Gething instructing the deletion of messages that could be “captured in an FOI” (Freedom of Information request). This revelation added to the growing scrutiny of his leadership.
In addition, government minister Hannah Blythyn was sacked over allegations of media leaks, which she denied. The controversy prompted Plaid Cymru to withdraw from the Labour government’s cooperation agreement.
News website Nation. Cymru, which broke the story of Blythyn’s sacking, denied that she was its source. The Welsh Conservatives subsequently called for the publication of evidence leading to Blythyn’s dismissal.
Gething, who served as the Welsh health minister during the pandemic, leaves behind a legacy marked by significant achievements and notable controversies. His resignation opens the door for new leadership within the Welsh Labour Party as it navigates these challenging times.
