Vaughan Gething announces Welsh Labour leadership bid
Vaughan Gething, Wales’ Economy Minister, has announced his bid for the Welsh Labour leadership today.
Gething is considered to be one of the frontrunners along with Jeremy Miles, Minister for Education and Welsh Language, who has yet to announce that he is standing.
The leadership race was triggered yesterday with the announcement that Mark Drakeford will step down as Wales’ First Minister in March.
Statement shared to X
In a statement shared to X, formerly known as Twitter, Mr Gething wrote: “I am announcing my intention to stand to be the next leader of Welsh Labour.”
“I do so in full recognition of the full task ahead of us, both as a party and as a government.”
I’m honoured to have received many messages of support from across our movement.
I will be standing to be the next leader of @welshlabour. 🌹🏴 pic.twitter.com/ClnqdDs2jy
— Vaughan Gething (@vaughangething) December 14, 2023
“We can only maintain our record of winning elections and fighting for the people of Wales if we are a united, modern, diverse movement which reflects this nation’s ambitions for the future.
“I am deeply honoured to have such strong support from right across the party, and the country, to build on Mark’s remarkable legacy.
“With a General Election on the horizon, Wales has a crucial opportunity to have two Labour governments working side-by-side to deliver real change in our communities and repair the damage wreaked by the toxic Tory years.”
‘Working with Keir’
“I will do my utmost, working with Keir and all our party colleagues, to secure a Labour victory in that election and bring the change we so desperately need.
“I look forward to a positive leadership contest where I plan to set out an energetic agenda for our country’s future.
“For everyone who calls Wales home, I look forward to listening to your hopes, ambitions and concerns in the coming weeks.”
Health Minister, Eluned Morgan, and Deputy Minister for Social Justice, Hannah Blythyn are also thought to be considering their position as possible candidates, but Mr Gething is the first person so far to confirm his intention.
Support our Nation today
For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.
Please please no. I fear he will split the Labour Party into factions and will provide a non-cooperative model of government. He will not unify the nation like Mr Drakeford has done. Please can we have J Miles who is somuch more aconsensus politician.
He’s been pencilled in by Starmer and Jo Stevens as our next Coloial Governor
Yup. There was a piece on him in the Guardian recently. Oh my! Mae’n gwneud i mi ystyried chwilio am ryw ynys rhywle fe allwn ni Gymry symud iddo a dianc y sioe baw ‘ma.
I’d rather Rhun ap Iorwerth as 1st minister personally.
#Savekilveyhill bad finance choices
Oh ! Now it starts …. …and first of all he needs a map ( perhaps one of coastal n wales from Janet FS as its the only one she uses ) A copy of “ Welsh in a Week “ that good old Teddy Millwood used with Charles Windsor@ Aberystwyth Then perhaps a brief course on listening to others and trying to take folk with you ? Finally i would recommend looking at the past speaches of Lord DET – this will help develop a sense of humour and a much needed thick political skin……an advantage Mark D had… Read more »
I couldn’t think of anyone more unsuited for this job.
Starmer’s got him pencilled in and Jo Stevens as Colonial Governor. Will Jeremy Miles be pushed from standing?
He’s a right wing anti-devolutionist. He’s also arrogant and egotistical. Perfect for Starmer’s brave new Conservatives.
This leadership contest should turn out to be a comic mix of unionist posturing with bland attempts at displaying a love of Wales. Sort of stuff that’s very similar to how paedos talk about children, or the love wife beaters show for their partners.
Vaughan Gething = unionist lackey
An excellent politician with a first class mind.
Come back Carwyn, all is forgiven!
Would not be my choice
Dewis gwael iawn. Jeremy Miles would be my choice. I think he’s an all round better politician, has a bit more charisma, more able to negotiate, less likely to take orders from London, and is able to speak in coherent sentences!
Should be JM, at least it feels he has some sort of back bone.
Why are the electorate not being given a chance to decide ? Is this a one-party state? We want a first minister to defend the rights of the people of Wales and to stop the UK government from extracting our wealth for their own. Mr Gething talks about an alliance with UK if England decides to vote UK Labour. That may work in the short time but supposing the UK vote for a government that Wales doesn’t want ? Is there a Plan B ? No, because we will be in the same situation as we are in now or… Read more »
Gething has a known antipathy towards Welsh political emancipation. He’s an ambitious Labour man in the Kinnock mould – and he is an infamous Dic Sion Dafydd.
“For everyone who calls Wales home, I look forward to listening to your hopes, ambitions and concerns in the coming weeks.”
I hope the UK is dissolved, I have the ambition of Democratic Welsh Statehood and I am concerned that voting Labour validates ruinous Tory Governance of Wales thanks to Labour’s support of the continuance of the Tory State. Now then Vaughan, do you think my vote would be safe with you? Probably not eh …
I totally agree but before we can be independent we need an international global airport, hospitals so we are not reliant on English hospitals as we are now.
‘Ething Useless