Minister mocked after ‘welcoming’ opposition MSs to chamber
Emily Price
Economy Minister Vaughan Gething has been mocked after he made a point of theatrically welcoming opposition MSs to the chamber during plenary.
The leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies locked horns with the economy minister with a joke about a future Labour leadership bid.
In the Senedd on Tuesday (November 22) Mr Gething first offered an over the top welcome to Welsh Conservative MS Paul Davies before answering a question about supporting small businesses in Wales.
Mr Davies hit back at the economy minister saying: “Just in case you haven’t noticed minister I do turn up to this chamber on a very regular basis.”
A few moments later, the leader of the opposition asked the economy minister a question on the Cardiff Capital Region city deal.
Welcome
Mr Gething responded in a similar vein saying: “I welcome the member to the chamber this afternoon.”
Presiding Officer, Elin Jones cut across the Welsh Government minister saying: “I just need to point out that it’s for me to welcome members to the chamber.
“Many members here are frequent visitors and do not need to be welcomed every time they’re in the chamber.”
Mr Gething interrupted saying: “Indeed, it’s great to see the member in the chamber this afternoon.”
The leader of the Welsh Conservatives hit back at the economy minister saying: “I genuinely don’t have a vote in the Labour leadership bid that’s coming up, minister but it is nice to see you here today, because I didn’t see you yesterday.”
Mr Gething is currently seen as the front runner in the next party leadership election to find a successor to Mark Drakeford.
An article thought to be intended to promote the candidacy of the Welsh government minister was recently published by The Guardian newspaper and shared by several other ministers on social media.
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I think VG needs to get out of his Cardiff and the Vale bubble more. Despite recent forays north of Methyr his knowledge of how the rest of us is concerning.
ARTD doesn’t need a theatrical welcome, circus clown music will do.
Dyw a’n helpo os mae Vaughan Gething i fod yn arweinydd y Blaid Llafur yng Nghymru a’r Prif Weinidog! Does ganndo fo ddim syniad.
Vg has a cheek to be so arrogant and dismissive. Still showing his real side after all his lame promises to women maimed by mesh when he was health minister
He comes across as a bit of an arrogant tw@t.