In June 2024, Vaughan Gething, first minister of Wales and leader of Welsh Labour, faced a non-binding vote of no-confidence in him as First Minister, tabled by the Welsh Conservatives, which he lost by a margin of 29 votes to 27 but did not resign at the time. Following mounting criticism over a campaign donation of £200,000 from a criminal businessman, and the resignation of four cabinet ministers, on 16 July 2024 Gething announced his resignation as First Minister. His resignation formally took effect on 6 August, when Eluned Morgan was elected First Minister of Wales.[1]
Gething being sworn in as first minister on 20 March 2024
In February 2024, it was reported that Vaughan Gething, during his successful campaign to succeed Mark Drakeford as First Minister of Wales in the February–March 2024 Welsh Labour leadership election, had received a campaign donation of £200,000 from David John Neal, a business man[2] who had previously been convicted twice of environmental offences as head of two companies, Atlantic Recycling and Neal Soil Suppliers.[3][4] He was described in the press as "unrepentant" in regard to his crimes, being described "[continuing] to show a lack of respect for the rules we enforce and for the health of the environment” by an employee of Natural Resources Wales.[5] One of Gething's ministerial colleagues, Lee Waters (who supported Miles in the Welsh Labour election), described the donation as "completely unjustifiable and wrong".[3][4]
The following month, an inquiry by BBC Wales shared letters written by Gething in 2016 and 2018 to Natural Resources Wales, requesting the public body to ease restrictions on Atlantic Recycling. Former Welsh Government minister, Leighton Andrews, was quoted as saying that the donations were "damaging devolution" and called for his fellow party member to return Neal's campaign donation,[6][7] which Gething refused to do.[7]
Gething also faced questions in April 2024 over "huge" loans made to one of David Neal's companies by the Development Bank of Wales, the most recent being a £400,000 loan made in February 2023 to fund the purchase of a solar farm. The Development Bank of Wales fell under Gething's remit as economy minister during his time in the post from May 2021 to March 2024.[8]
During the inquiry into the COVID-19 pandemic response, Gething stated that he had not deliberately deleted any messages from his phone.[9] On 7 May, Nation.Cymru obtained text messages from Gething in a Welsh Government group chat, in which he said "I'm deleting the messages in this group. They can be captured in an FOI [Freedom of Information request] and I think we are all in the right place on the choice being made."[9] Gething denied allegations of perjury put to him in by Rhun ap Iorwerth in First Minister's Questions the same day, describing the allegations as 'obnoxious'.[10] A few days later, he removed Hannah Blythyn from her role as Minister for Social Partnership, alleging that she was the leak of the text messages.[11] She denied this.[12] Blythyn was replaced by Sarah Murphy on 17 May.[13]
On 17 May, Rhun ap Iorwerth announced that Plaid Cymru had withdrawn from the co-operation agreement with Welsh Labour,[14] saying "I remain deeply concerned that the First Minister has failed to pay back the £200,000 donation to his leadership campaign from a company convicted of environmental offences, and believe it demonstrates a significant lack of judgment."[15] Gething responded by saying that "The co-operation agreement was about mature politics, working together on areas where we agree. While it was always a time-limited agreement, we are disappointed Plaid Cymru has decided to walk away from their opportunity to deliver for the people of Wales."[15]
On 5 June, after just 78 days as First Minister, Gething faced a non-binding vote of no-confidence in him as First Minister, tabled by the Welsh Conservatives led by Andrew RT Davies, in which he lost by a margin of 29 votes to 27.[16] Welsh Labour MSs Hannah Blythyn and Lee Waters were not present due to illness.[17] Prior to the vote Gething and his allies described the no-confidence motion as a 'gimmick'.[18] Gething responded by saying "I'm here, proud to be the first minister of Wales to serve and lead my country."[17] It was the second such motion to happen, the first being against Alun Michael in 2000.
Despite losing the no confidence vote, Gething announced he would not resign as First Minister on 8 June.[19] However, on 16 July he announced his intention to resign[20] an hour after ministers Mick Antoniw, Julie James, Lesley Griffiths and Jeremy Miles stepped down from their posts.[21] He resigned on 5 August 2024 after Eluned Morgan had been elected unopposed as Welsh Labour Leader making him the shortest serving First Minister since the role was created, a record previously held by Michael.[22][23] Commenting on the resignation, Michael said Gething was "in effect forced out". He suggested that Eluned Morgan and Huw Irranca-Davies could stand in the Welsh Labour leadership election to succeed him.[24]
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