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Vaughan Gething to stand down from Senedd at next election

08 Sep 2024 3 minute read
Vaughan Gething . Photo Ben Birchall/PA Wire

Vaughan Gething, the Labour former first minister of Wales who stood down following a series of scandals, has announced he will not seek re-election for the Senedd.

Mr Gething, the MS for Cardiff South and Penarth, said it had been “an immense honour” to serve his constituents and in the Welsh Government as he made the announcement.

On X, formerly Twitter, he wrote: “I have spoken to the First Minister to confirm that I will not be seeking a role in government and that I will support her leadership as a backbencher.”

After paying tribute to his successor Eluned Morgan, Mr Gething added: “I will continue to serve the constituency until 2026 and look forward to working on issues where I can further the causes of social justice that drew me into public service.”

‘Inspiring’

The Labour MS added: “As a Welshman born in Zambia, it has been a great honour to serve in the Welsh Government for over a decade.

“The opportunity to make a difference alongside inspiring people and movements, determined to make change happen, is a special privilege. One I will always be grateful for and proud of.”

Mr Gething lasted less than 140 days as first minister, having presided over a turbulent period in office, beset by rows over donations and sacked ministers.

He took over from Mark Drakeford in March, and announced his intention to resign in July after four members of his government quit, criticising his leadership.

During the last leadership race, Nation.Cymru revealed that Mr Gething took a £200,000 donation for his campaign from a company owned by a man twice convicted of environmental offences, which led to some members of his own party criticising his judgment.

In June, Mr Gething lost a vote of no confidence in the Senedd, after rows over the donation, and his decision to sack Delyn MS Hannah Blythyn as a minister.

Ms Blythyn was removed from Vaughan Gething’s cabinet in May after she was accused of being the source of a leaked iMessage screen grab published by Nation.Cymru.

The image revealed the First Minister had told a pandemic era ministerial group chat that he was deleting messages because they could be subject to Freedom of Information legislation.

Ms Blythyn denied the being the source of the leak saying her integrity remains intact.

Nation.Cymru then took the extraordinary step of confirming she was not the source of the leak.

Health secretary

Baroness Morgan was health secretary from 2021 until she succeeded Mr Gething – himself a former health secretary – as leader of Welsh Labour on July 24, and was then sworn in as the first woman First Minister of Wales.

She paid tribute to her predecessor, and said he had made “a truly historic contribution to Wales in some of the toughest of circumstances”.

Baroness Morgan added: “I know that Vaughan will go on to make important contributions to our country in the years ahead.

“Diolch Vaughan am bopeth rwyt ti wedi neud dros ein gwlad (Thank you Vaughan for everything you have done for our country).”

Nick Thomas-Symonds, the Labour MP for Torfaen, and a senior minister in Sir Keir Starmer’s Government at Westminster, said Mr Gething had given “extraordinary service to Wales” in a tribute on social media site X.

“I will always remember how he stepped up during the pandemic, showing integrity and commitment in the hardest of times,” he added.


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J Jones
J Jones
1 month ago

Shocked at this because he’ll always be remembered for his removal from office due to the ‘£200k from a criminal’ scandal – so his career options must be limited.

On the other hand, the cynic in me thinks he’s got something better lined up for his own personal agenda, which as we all know is paramount.

Annibendod
Annibendod
1 month ago
Reply to  J Jones

A nice ermine robe most likely …

Last edited 1 month ago by Annibendod
J Jones
J Jones
1 month ago
Reply to  Annibendod

This is what he’s even mentioned himself, but he’ll have to ‘sign on’ in London for just £300 a day, plus whatever consultancy payments he can get from Dodgy Dave Neal to scupper any toxic waste management legislation.

As mentioned below there are some very dishonourable 3rd sector organisations where he’d fit in and enjoy the lack of scrutiny, or he could go full circle and back home to Zambia as High Commissioner.

Llyn
Llyn
1 month ago
Reply to  J Jones

“back home to Zambia as High Commissioner”. Vaughan Gething is as Welsh as you or I. To say otherwise, as you do, no ifs no buts – racist.

hdavies15
hdavies15
1 month ago
Reply to  Llyn

Lots of speculation about his future but really it boils down to either a seat in the Lords or a move to the Commons when a suitable vacant seat arises. No Tories to dispose of in Wales so would he have a punt in England ?

J Jones
J Jones
1 month ago
Reply to  Llyn

Please point out where I referred to skin colour?

My reference was to the fact that he was born in Zambia and half Zambian.

The worst form of racism is race card racism, that is both hypocritical and divisive. Sounds like he’s already left you his card.

I don’t like Gething because his total lack of integrity has tarnished this country, but then his priority has always been himself.

Alaina
Alaina
1 month ago
Reply to  J Jones

By “his own personal agenda” do you mean his career aspirations? It seems a bit mean to condemn him for having those. EVERYONE has those. Mine are to retire as soon as I am able

Dafydd Morgan
Dafydd Morgan
1 month ago

Sounds to me that he knew he would never be selected to stand in 2026, not even under the proposed new voting system.

Still, apart from heading up some dreadful third sector body, I have no idea who will employ him after his short tenure as FM.

Welsh Patriot
Welsh Patriot
1 month ago

I have heard he is going to take over the Plassey Fish and Chip shop in Penarth.

Seriously, a disastrous politician and an even worse FM.

Valley girl
Valley girl
1 month ago
Reply to  Welsh Patriot

That sounds a bit fishy. Gethin is more into waste management.

Welsh Patriot
Welsh Patriot
1 month ago

Could someone tell me, like Lis Truss, will VG receive a pension based on the office he held for a month or so?
If so, this is yet another scandal that will follow him around.

Adrian
Adrian
1 month ago

Excellent. He’s an amoral, lying grifter, and clearly too thick to hold public office.

Llyn
Llyn
1 month ago
Reply to  Adrian

Adrian what do you think of the far-right racist and lying coward Nigel Farage who has very close associations with convicted fraudsters – https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jul/03/george-cottrell-nigel-farage-reform-uk-montenegro?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

Gareth Davies
Gareth Davies
1 month ago
Reply to  Llyn

What has Farage’s character defects got to do with an opinion of Gething? He was brought down by his own clumsy arrogance in official and interpersonal dealings and is going because he knows he wouldn’t get elected. He typifies many politicians of all parties from Labour to Plaid to Tories and SNP. A nice sinecure in a ‘3rd Sector’ organisation is probably already promised as the quid pro quo of going now just before the conference season, such that any potential embarrassment is drowned by the general political noise.

Llyn
Llyn
1 month ago
Reply to  Gareth Davies

Farage’s close associations with a criminal fraudster has everything to do with it. If Adrian’s accusations are principled then he should have no problem saying he would never vote for a party led by this dubious extremist. Would you have voted Plaid in Cardiff West in July knowing their candidate was a criminal?

J Jones
J Jones
1 month ago
Reply to  Llyn

If you don’t agree with someone’s comment just state a few facts that contradict that comment.
Bringing another random person into the argument instead just means you’re unable to contradict the original statement.

Billy James
Billy James
1 month ago

Good riddance…

And should have been kicked out of the Senedd for flagrant breaches of the Nolan principles in public life..

Selflessness,Integrity,Objectivity,Accountability,Openness,Honesty & leadership.

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
1 month ago
Reply to  Billy James

And FM Morgan is so equipped…!

John Ellis
John Ellis
1 month ago

It’s surely for the best. Mr Gething is bound to have realized that his chances of rebuilding his political future would be inconceivably slender.

Old Curmudgeon
Old Curmudgeon
1 month ago

I guess The Baroness didn’t give him a job and he’s stuck on his meagre £72,000 so he’s got no choice poor chap. i agree with the MP for Torfaen that Mr Gething has given “extraordinary service to Wales” (in fact I would go as far as calling his time as first Minister Unbelievable) and I think that his decision to try an find gainful employment elsewhere is probably one of the greatest services he has done for his country. Does that mean that he is now unanswerable for his previous actions?

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
1 month ago

He made a good stalking horse for First Mate Morgan…

Last edited 1 month ago by Mab Meirion
Frank
Frank
1 month ago

Why wait? Go now!! How much will we have to pay when he goes? When I worked if anyone handed in their notice they would leave empty handed.

Alaina
Alaina
1 month ago

Still lasted longer than Liz Truss

Gareth Davies
Gareth Davies
1 month ago
Reply to  Alaina

That’s hardly something to be proud of

Y Cymro
Y Cymro
1 month ago

Welsh Labour’s Vaughan Gething was and still could have been Wales First Minister but his pigheadedness and refusal to admit fault when he accepted £200k from a twice convicted criminal was the catalyst to his own political demise. He not only shamed his office but those in Wales who face daily racism due to the colour of their skin who looked up to him not only as a man but celebrated him as Europe’s first black leader of any country. And instead of accepting that he, Vaughan Gething, made an error of judgement, apologised, and tried to heal the gaping… Read more »

Amos Hartley
Amos Hartley
1 month ago
Reply to  Y Cymro

If the donation was a problem why haven’t the rules been changed?

Valley girl
Valley girl
1 month ago

Perhaps he has become a director in the waste company he got the £200k from.

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