Turmoil in Wales: Vaughan Gething Steps Down Amid Leadership Crisis and Calls for Snap Election

Vaughan Gething announces resignation as Welsh First Minister

Vaughan Gething expressed his initial desire for a "summer of reflection, rebuilding, and renewal" to occur while he was in charge.

Political correspondent @fayebrownSky

Tuesday, July 16, 2024, 4:

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Vaughan Gething has declared his resignation as the First Minister of Wales following the departure of four government members who protested his leadership.

In an announcement made Tuesday morning, Mr. Gething expressed that he had made the tough choice to initiate his resignation process and will now start planning the schedule for selecting his replacement.

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Last month, Mr. Gething faced a defeat in a no-confidence vote due to controversies surrounding his dismissal of a minister and allegations concerning donations received during his campaign for the leadership of Welsh Labour, which led to the breakdown of the collaboration agreement between Labour and Plaid Cymru in the Senedd.

Sworn in just last March, Mr. Gething expressed in his statement his desire that "the summer months would allow for a time of contemplation, reconstruction, and rejuvenation under my guidance."

"He acknowledged that it was unfeasible," he added.

"Serving in this role, even for just a brief period, has been the greatest privilege of my life."

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Mr. Gething refuted all allegations of misconduct, stating, "My integrity is important to me. I have maintained it."

"It's disheartening that the value placed on evidence has diminished in our political discourse."

He mentioned that the critiques of his leadership had led to a challenging period for both him and his relatives.

"He stated that the increasing claims of misconduct are harmful, politically driven, and clearly false."

"During my 11-year tenure as a minister, I have consistently made decisions without any personal benefit in mind. At no point have I exploited or mishandled my duties in office."

Prime Minister and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer stated that Mr. Gething opted for the "challenging choice," believing it to be the optimal decision for Wales at this time.

Following his announcement in the Senedd about his decision to resign, Mr. Gething received a round of applause from fellow members. He expressed pride in his accomplishments and conveyed eagerness to find out who will follow in his footsteps.

Demand for an immediate vote

Tensions flared among the opposition, as Andrew RT Davies, the leader of the Welsh Conservatives, claimed that Mr. Gething refused to shake his hand after he offered his sympathies.

Mr. Davies described his rival's departure as "long overdue" and stated that Labour leaders "up to Keir Starmer" share responsibility for the governance failures in Wales.

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Plaid Cymru's leader Rhun ap Iorwerth has called for an immediate election instead of permitting Labour to appoint a new first minister amid what he described as ongoing turmoil.

He stated: "For too long, Labour has prioritized its own party interests over the national interests."

It is essential that the citizens of Wales are afforded the chance to vote for a new administration, necessitating the calling of an election.

Wales operates under a devolved administrative system, and its subsequent Senedd elections are scheduled to take place in 2026.

A spokesperson for Welsh Labour stated that Mr. Gething has served the public "commendably" and they will "quickly" initiate the process for the leadership election, with the current first minister remaining in office until that process is complete.

Commenting on the recent general election that resulted in the Conservative Party losing all its seats in Wales, they stated: "Just two weeks ago, the Welsh electorate decisively chose a UK Labour government to collaborate closely with our Welsh Labour administration to benefit them. Our priority is on fulfilling these commitments."

Scandal plagues Gething's tenure as leader

Mr. Gething's leadership faltered following the resignation of Labour cabinet ministers Mick Antoniw, Julie James, Lesley Griffiths, and Jeremy Miles. They stepped down from their roles, informing the first minister that they were unable to continue in their positions unless he resigned.

In a historic moment last March, Mr. Gething broke new ground by becoming the first black leader of a European nation, taking over from Mark Drakeford as the First Minister of Wales.

From the outset of his tenure, he faced scrutiny concerning a £200,000 contribution to his Labour leadership bid. Additionally, controversy arose from a leaked phone message that resulted in the dismissal of one of his ministers, compounded by Plaid Cymru's decision to withdraw their backing for his administration, contributing to a turbulent atmosphere.

Gething's departure sets the stage for a pivotal Welsh election

Correspondent in Wales

His colleagues in the Labour Party trusted him.

Vaughan Gething conveyed this information to journalists just last week.

He assumed leadership from Mark Drakefield in March.

However, a contentious £200,000 donation and the dismissal of a minister have overshadowed the past four months.

He has resigned, marking the briefest tenure as Wales's First Minister.

On Tuesday, the resignation of four ministers made it untenable for them to remain in their prominent positions.

In 2021, the Labour Party secured 30 out of the 60 seats in the Senedd.

The administration was collaborating with Plaid Cymru to get important laws passed, but the Welsh nationalist party exited the partnership in May.

Since its establishment in 1999, the Welsh government has consistently been under Labour leadership.

Following a challenging time for the administration and the adoption of a new, more equitable voting system, the upcoming 2026 election could significantly alter the political landscape.

The contribution came from the Dauson Environmental Group, a company under the ownership of David Neal, who has a history of convictions related to environmental violations.

Critics argued that Mr. Gething's leadership bid should have refused the funds, yet the first minister maintained that the contribution complied with regulations and was reported according to party guidelines.

He declined requests for an investigation into the donation and opted to initiate a broader examination of political contributions.

Mr. Gething also came under fire for dismissing social partnership minister Hannah Blythyn following accusations that she leaked messages about the COVID-19 pandemic.

Further reading: Gething faces allegations of deception at COVID Inquiry; Welsh government pledges to disqualify lying members of the Senedd

The online platform Nation.Cymru has refuted claims that it was responsible for disclosing the private messages.

This sequence of events resulted in the breakdown of a collaborative deal with Plaid Cymru, crucial for passing new laws. Following this, he faced a defeat in a symbolic vote of no confidence in the Senedd, with a tally of 29-27 against him.

Mr. Gething described the motion as a "gimmick," pointing out that opposition parties refused to engage in a pairing arrangement which would compensate for the absence of two unwell Labour members.

Today, he released proof that he claims supported his choice to dismiss Ms. Blythyn, pointing out that a screenshot of the leaked information lacked her initials, indicating it likely originated from her phone.

However, this occurred following the departure of four cabinet members, rendering his role almost unsustainable.

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Four cabinet members resign

Mr. Miles, who resigned from his position as economy secretary, expressed to Mr. Gething, "The recent months, especially with the unsuccessful confidence vote in the Senedd, have been extremely difficult.

"It is critical that we start fixing the harm right away, and it is with deep regret that I've determined this cannot be achieved under your guidance."

Ms. James, the former housing secretary, expressed her concerns to the first minister, stating that she believed the future of Welsh devolution could be jeopardized if he remained in his position.

Ms. Griffiths, stepping down from her role as culture secretary, stated: "I've come to the decision that it's not possible to rectify our current situation while you remain in charge, which leaves me with no other viable choice at this moment."

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Mr. Antoniw stated that Mr. Gething had lost the majority support in the Senedd and described the situation as "rudderless" in the absence of a new leader.

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