2024 Welsh government crisis

Last updated

2024 Welsh government crisis
Prime Minister Keir Starmer meets Wales Vaughan Gething (53843623368).jpg
Vaughan Gething with Keir Starmer, two weeks before Gething's resignation
Date17 May – 16 July 2024 (2024-05-17 – 2024-07-16)
CauseCampaign donation of £200,000 from an unrepentant criminal businessman
Resignation of several cabinet members
MotiveTo declare no confidence in Vaughan Gething as First Minister, and no confidence in the Welsh Government
Participants Andrew RT Davies
Rhun ap Iorwerth
Mick Antoniw
Julie James
Lesley Griffiths
Jeremy Miles
OutcomeResignation of Vaughan Gething

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 an unrepentant criminal businessman, and the resignation of four cabinet ministers, on 16 July 2024 Gething announced his resignation as First Minister. His resignation will formally take effect when his successor is elected.

Contents

Background

Gething being sworn in as first minister on 20 March 2024 Vaughan Gething swearing in as First Minister of Wales.jpg
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 [1] who had previously been convicted twice of environmental offences as head of two companies, Atlantic Recycling and Neal Soil Suppliers. [2] [3] One of Gething's ministerial colleagues, Lee Waters (who supported Miles in the Welsh Labour election), described the donation as "completely unjustifiable and wrong". [2] [3]

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, [4] [5] which Gething refused to do. [5]

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. [6]

During the inquiry into the COVID-19 pandemic response, Gething stated that he had not deliberately deleted any messages from his phone. [7] 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." [7] 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'. [8] 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. [9] She denied this. [10] Blythyn was replaced by Sarah Murphy on 17 May. [11]

On 17 May, Rhun ap Iorwerth announced that Plaid Cymru had withdrawn from the co-operation agreement with Welsh Labour, [12] 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." [13] 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." [13]

Government crisis and resignation

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. [14] Welsh Labour MSs Hannah Blythyn and Lee Waters were not present due to illness. [15] Prior to the vote Gething and his allies described the no-confidence motion as a 'gimmick'. [16] Gething responded by saying "I'm here, proud to be the first minister of Wales to serve and lead my country." [15] It was the second such motion to happen, the first being against fellow Cardiff South and Penarth member Alun Michael in 2000.

Despite losing the no confidence vote, Gething announced he would not resign as First Minister on 8 June. [17] However, on 16 July he announced his resignation [18] an hour after ministers Mick Antoniw, Julie James, Lesley Griffiths and Jeremy Miles stepped down from their posts. [19] His resignation, announced 118 days into his premiership, [20] will formally take effect when his successor is elected, and will make him the shortest serving First Minister since the role was created, a record previously held by Michael. [21] [22] 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. [23]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Minister of Wales</span> Leader of the Welsh Government

The first minister of Wales is the leader of the Welsh Government and keeper of the Welsh Seal. The first minister chairs the Welsh Cabinet and is primarily responsible for the formulation, development and presentation of Welsh Government policy. Additional functions of the first minister include promoting and representing Wales in an official capacity, at home and abroad, and responsibility for constitutional affairs, as they relate to devolution and the Welsh Government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darren Millar</span> Welsh Conservative politician, MS for Clwyd West

Darren David Millar is a Welsh Conservative politician who has served as the Member of the Senedd (MS) for Clwyd West since 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lynne Neagle</span> Welsh politician (born 1968)

Lynne Neagle is a Welsh Labour & Co-operative politician serving as Cabinet Secretary for Education since 2024. Born in Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan, Wales, Neagle has been the Member of the Senedd (MS) for the constituency of Torfaen since the Senedd was established in 1999.

The Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language is a member of the Cabinet in the Welsh Government. The office has been vacant since July 2024. The economy portfolio was put under the responsibility of Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport, Ken Skates, by First Minister Vaughan Gething in July 2024, following the resignation of the previous officeholder Jeremy Miles, in the lead up to Gething announcing his own resignation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vaughan Gething</span> First Minister of Wales since 2024

Humphrey Vaughan ap David Gething is a Welsh Labour and Co-operative Party politician who is currently serving as First Minister of Wales and leader of Welsh Labour since 2024, making him the first black leader of any European country. Gething previously served as the Minister for Health and Social Services from 2016 to 2021 and Minister for the Economy from 2021 to 2024. He has been the Member of the Senedd (MS) for Cardiff South and Penarth since 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeremy Miles</span> Welsh politician (born 1971)

Jeremy Miles is a Welsh Labour Co-op politician, who was Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language from March to July 2024. He previously served in the Welsh Government as Counsel General for Wales from 2017 to 2021, Brexit Minister from 2018 to 2021, and the Minister for coordinating Wales’ recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2021. Miles has been the Member of the Senedd (MS) for Neath since 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Drakeford</span> First Minister of Wales from 2018 to 2024

Mark Drakeford is a Welsh politician who served as First Minister of Wales and Leader of Welsh Labour from 2018 to 2024. He previously served in the Welsh Government as Cabinet Secretary for Finance from 2016 to 2018 and Minister for Health and Social Services from 2013 to 2016. Drakeford was first elected as the Member of the Senedd (MS) for Cardiff West in 2011 and is considered to be on the soft left of Labour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhun ap Iorwerth</span> Welsh journalist and politician

Rhun ap Iorwerth is a Welsh journalist and politician who has served as the Leader of Plaid Cymru since June 2023. He has been the Member of the Senedd (MS) for Ynys Môn since 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lee Waters</span> Welsh Labour & Co-operative politician and Member of the Senedd for Llanelli

Lee Waters is a Welsh Labour and Co-operative politician who served as Deputy Minister for Climate Change from 2021 to 2024. He has served as the Member of the Senedd (MS) for Llanelli since 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hannah Blythyn</span> Welsh Labour politician and Member of the Senedd for Delyn

Hannah Blythyn is a Welsh politician who served as the Minister for Social Partnership in the Welsh Government from 2021 to 2024. She was previously the Environment Minister from 2017 to 2018 and the Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government from 2018 to 2021. A member of Welsh Labour and Co-operative Party, she has been the Member of the Senedd (MS) for Delyn since 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Welsh Labour leadership election</span> Welsh Labour Party leadership election

The 2018 Welsh Labour Party leadership election took place between 9 November and 6 December 2018 to elect a successor to Carwyn Jones as leader of the Welsh Labour Party.

2020s political history refers to significant political and societal historical events in the United Kingdom in the 2020s, presented as a historical overview in narrative format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 United Kingdom general election in Wales</span>

The 2024 United Kingdom general election was held on Thursday, 4 July 2024. Thirty-two seats were up for election in Wales as the general election occurred after the recently completed boundary review took effect. The Labour Party won a landslide victory of Welsh MPs, gaining six seats for a total of 27. Both Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats gained one seat each, taking them to four seats and one seat respectively. The Conservatives lost all thirteen seats they had held previously, leaving the party without Westminster representation from Wales for the first time since 2001.

The February–March 2024 Welsh Labour leadership election took place between February and March 2024 to select Mark Drakeford's successor as leader of Welsh Labour, who in turn would become First Minister of Wales. Drakeford announced his resignation and retirement on 13 December 2023, five years after his election. Voting began in February 2024 with the new leader announced on 16 March 2024. Vaughan Gething won the election with 51.7% of the vote. The next scheduled Senedd election is due on or before 7 May 2026.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Welsh Labour–Plaid Cymru agreement</span> 2021–2024 Welsh political agreement

In December 2021, the Welsh Labour government and Plaid Cymru signed a three-year co-operation agreement, where the two parties agreed to work together in 46 policy areas. The agreement was not a coalition or confidence and supply agreement; Plaid Cymru remained in opposition but appointed advisers to offices of the Welsh Government.

Events from the year 2024 in Wales.

A leadership election is expected to take place to select Vaughan Gething's successor as leader of Welsh Labour, who in turn will become First Minister of Wales. Gething announced his resignation on 16 July 2024, four months after his election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minister for Social Partnership</span> Welsh Government minister

The Minister for Social Partnership is a minister of the Welsh Government. The current officeholder is Jack Sargeant since July 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gething government</span> Current Welsh Government (2024–present)

The Gething government is the Labour-led government of Wales formed on 21 March 2024 following the appointment of Vaughan Gething as First Minister on 20 March 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frontbench Team of Rhun ap Iorwerth</span> Plaid Cymru frontbench team in the Senedd (2023–present)

Rhun ap Iorwerth, the leader of Plaid Cymru, formed his frontbench team of party spokespeople in the Senedd on 27 June 2023 after he was elected unopposed to succeed Adam Price as party leader on 16 June. He reshuffled his frontbench team on 6 June 2024 to prepare for the next Senedd election following the passage of a motion of no confidence in First Minister Vaughan Gething.

References

  1. ↑ Gwyneth Rees, 'The fly-tipping scandal that brought down Labour’s Welsh leader', Daily Telegraph , 6 June 2024 (subscription required); archived at archive.ph, accessed 17 July 2024
  2. 1 2 "Gwent Levels waste dumping: David John Neal pleads guilty". BBC News. 21 February 2024. Archived from the original on 22 February 2024. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  3. 1 2 "Vaughan Gething accepts £200k from environmental offender's company". BBC News. 21 February 2024. Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  4. ↑ "Vaughan Gething helped donor's waste offence company". BBC News. 12 March 2024. Archived from the original on 13 March 2024. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  5. 1 2 Grey, Jack (17 March 2024). "Vaughan Gething rejects calls to return £200k donation". BBC News. Archived from the original on 18 March 2024. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  6. ↑ Hayward, Will (22 April 2024). "Firm that bankrolled Vaughan Gething's campaign received £400k in loans of public money". Wales Online. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  7. 1 2 Mansfield, Mark (7 May 2024). "Vaughan Gething misled UK Covid Inquiry by not admitting he deleted messages". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  8. ↑ Mosalski, Ruth (7 May 2024). "Vaughan Gething denies 'obnoxious' claim he committed perjury at Covid inquiry". Wales Online. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  9. ↑ Mosalski, Ruth (16 May 2024). "Vaughan Gething sacks member of cabinet over leak". Wales Online. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  10. ↑ "I am deeply shocked and saddened by what has happened today. I am clear and have been clear that I did not, nor have I ever leaked anything. Integrity is all in politics and I retain mine. 1/2 🧵". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  11. ↑ Price, Emily (17 May 2024). "Sarah Murphy replaces sacked junior minister Hannah Blythyn". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  12. ↑ Hayward, Will (17 May 2024). "Plaid Cymru pulls out of deal to support Labour in the Senedd". Wales Online. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  13. 1 2 Mansfield, Mark (17 May 2024). "Plaid Cymru pulls out of Co-operation Agreement with the Welsh Government". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  14. ↑ "Vaughan Gething: Welsh first minister to face no-confidence vote". BBC News. 5 June 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  15. 1 2 "Vaughan Gething: Welsh first minister vows to 'carry on' after loseing no-confidence vote". BBC News. 5 June 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  16. ↑ Price, Emily (5 June 2024). "First Minister set to defy Senedd no confidence vote". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  17. ↑ "Vaughan Gething won't quit after losing vote of no confidence". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  18. ↑ Grierson, Jamie (16 July 2024). "Vaughan Gething resigns as first minister of Wales". the Guardian. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  19. ↑ Grierson, Jamie (16 July 2024). "Vaughan Gething's leadership in peril as four Welsh ministers resign". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  20. ↑ Mercer, Rosie; Deans, David (16 July 2024). "Who is Vaughan Gething, the outgoing first minister of Wales?". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  21. ↑ "Vaughan Gething quits as Welsh First Minister following resignations from his government". ITV News. 16 July 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  22. ↑ "Alun Michael no longer shortest serving First Minister after Northern Ireland FM steps down". Nation.Cymru. 4 February 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  23. ↑ Palmer, Mark; Deans, David (16 July 2024). "Gething haunted by his decisions, says Drakeford". BBC News. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.