Vaughan Gething ‘proud of his record’ after confirming he’s stepping down as First Minister
Emily Price
Vaughan Gething has insisted that he is proud of his record and says his loyalty to his country and party shouldn’t be questioned following his announcement he was resigning as First Minister.
The outgoing First Minister told the Senedd: “I’m proud of my record in all the things I have done before coming here and since coming here in 11 years as being a minister.
“I’m sad that today sees the start of that process coming to an end, but I remain full of optimism of what this place can do and what Welsh Labour leadership can provide to my country and all the people who are proud to call Wales their home.”
His comments came in response to Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies who said Mr Gething had refused to shake his hand earlier on Tuesday (July 16) when he expressed his condolences in the Senedd’s lift.
When pressing Mr Gething, Mr Davies said: “Was it the acceptance of the £200,000 donation to your leadership campaign, or was it your appointment of your leadership contender and his leadership team to your cabinet that ultimately cost you the role of First Minister?”
He added: “Are the Labour group in this Senedd so riven that you are unable to complete that mandate?”
Mr Gething announced his resignation after weeks of controversies and a mass walk out by four members of his cabinet.
Counsel General Mick Antoniw said Wales needed a “confident and stable” government, adding in a letter to Mr Gething: “I do not believe you are capable of delivering that.”
Scandals
Mr Gething’s short tenure saw him embroiled in several scandals over a huge donation to his leadership campaign from a convicted polluter and the sacking of one of his junior ministers.
He received applause from politicians in the Chamber after making a statement confirming his intention to quit.
Mr Gething will remain in post as First Minister until a new leader is selected in the Autumn.
Plaid Cymru called for a snap Senedd election in the wake of Mr Gething’s resignation.
Speaking during FMQs Plaid’s Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said Mr Gething had “blamed journalists and opposition politicians” for scrutinising the First Minister’s actions.
In June, Mr Gething lost a vote of no confidence in the Senedd but insisted he would not resign.
His decision to accept a £200,000 donation from the Dauson Environmental Group, which is owned by David Neal, who has previously been convicted of environmental offences was first reported by Nation.Cymru.
He was heavily criticised by opposition members over the donation and calls were made for an independent investigation.
There have also been concerns about a possible conflict of interest in the money coming from a company which was loaned £400,000 by the Welsh government-owned Development Bank of Wales (DBW).
Mr Gething has insisted he followed the rules and rejected the calls for an independent investigation.
Former First Minister Carwyn Jones was appointed to oversee an internal Labour review of the party’s election processes.
Messages
Mr Gething was hit with another controversy in May when he sacked minister for social partnership Hannah Blythyn for allegedly leaking Covid era messages to Nation.Cymru.
Ms Blythyn, who represents Delyn, said she could “look all my colleagues who sit on these benches in the eye” and say she had not leaked to the media.
Nation.Cymru maintains that Ms Blythyn was not the source of the leak which triggered her sacking.
Mr Gething has since said he has “never tried to claim” she was the direct source.
Speaking about the media storm, Mr Gething told the Senedd: “In the smearing that takes place – a solar farm is nothing to do with me as the First Minister, I can’t get involved in that because it’s in my constituency. I’ve been clear about that.
“DBW have been clear that they didn’t take any direction from any minister. It would be sinister if the government chose to intervene in favour in any application that the Development Bank undertakes.
“Yet the member continues to pursue matters that he knows are not related to my conduct. If our politics is going to serve the country then some of us at least have to have some integrity in the way we go about our jobs including the critism of other people.”
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‘Proud of his record’ demonstrates that he was not fit for the position of First Minister. His self inflicted weakness has allowed the hitherto irrelevance that is Andrew RT Davies to ask him pertinent questions that were not possible under his predecessor. Unforgivable. Time to get back to RT conducting his sniping opposition from the GBeebies studio.
“Vaughan Gething has insisted that he is proud of his record and says his loyalty to his country and party shouldn’t be questioned “
I believe him 100%
Loyalty to his party – Srarmerlabour
Loyalty to his country – The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
The entire Senedd erupted into “Mistakes he’s made a few, but too few to mention, he’s one of us, through and through, but now time for his pension!”
Vaughan then threw his cane in the air, waved his hat and said, “I’ll be in summer season on Penarth pier if you’re passing!”
I understand the rules allowed this though I have not read the rules. But I have not seen the press really clarify anything, I did not see Mr Gethin really clear anything up. Ms Blythyn debacle concerns me. As does the hiding whatsapp messages and but then so did the Tory government.
But Journo’s. Pleases please please, when you interview ARTD, ask him if he was happy door stepping people on the election trail with Hestons loot in his hands (not literally but the leaflets are paid from donations)..
His closing comment that his integrity was very important and he still maintained it struck me as a nasty little dig at Hannah Blythyn. Extremely close to the wording of her tweet on the day Gething sacked her.
OK, it’s back to the few Welsh Labour members to choose another FM. In the meantime the BBC’s 6 o’clock news opens with five minutes of another resignation – Gareth Southgate’s. Unbeliebable! Show’s the priorities of the London media.
What record is this then when he was health minister he pulled BCUHB out of special measures for the election and as soon as the ink was dry on the results put them back into special measures…
Proud!!!! oh yes, well he did last longer than a lettuce
What record is he talking about? From accepting the position of first minister to his ” resignation ” it has been a disaster for the people of Wales his bluffing and smoke screens about donations, deleted messages, reasons for sacking a member of the cabinet, flying to India for a meeting about a subject that has nothing to do with the Welsh government, ignoring a no confidence vote, his remaining in office untill after an election in a foreign land meeting royalty behaving like the big I am and achieving absolutely nothing has been a bit odd and nothing to… Read more »
All this man needed to do at the very beginning was to say “sorry I have made and error of judgment” but he has too arrogant and chosen to ignore the people he was meant to lead and pride comes before a fall. Ultimately he wasn’t up to the job. Now he is going please can we have someone who is put in place because they are going to be able to perform. I don’t care what sex, gender, colour height or religion but I do want them to stop making Wales look foolish.
Champagne socialism at its most toxic.
Glad the weather has decided it’s autumn already.
Be gone Gething 🍁
‘Vaughan Gething has insisted that he is proud of his record …’
I’m not sure that he’s been in his post long enough to really have one.
So the Welsh Boris Johnson is now the Welsh Liz Truss. I’m thrilled to see the back of the idiot.
‘Vaughan Gething has insisted that he is proud of his record …’
In fairness he can claim a record of which to be arguably proud in his role as health minister during the pandemic. He occupied that challenging role for quite some time in the midst of a crisis, and on the whole did so with calmness and competence.
But his record as first minister is a different matter entirely. Very brief, and marred by poor judgement and tetchy obfuscation from the outset.