Vaughan Gething can’t continue as first minister, Senedd members say

Welsh first minister Vaughan Gething can no longer command confidence in the Senedd and must stand down, according to political opponents.

Welsh Conservative Tom Giffard said Welsh Labour was “completely divided under his leadership” and would be “unable to govern, unable to legislate”.

And Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds said it was time for Mr Gething to “do the right thing” and resign.

MS for Caerphilly Hefin David said the first minister retains the support of the Labour group in the Senedd.

He also described Hannah Blythyn as “one of the most key members” of the group.

On Friday, Mr Gething insisted he was getting on with the job, despite a continuing row over his sacking of Ms Blythyn over a leaked text row and criticism of controversial donations to his leadership campaign.

Mr Giffard, Member of the Senedd (MS) for South Wales West, told BBC Politics Wales on Sunday: “The idea that we can just move on in the way the first minister wants and talk about whatever he wants to talk about isn’t the way this works.

“He can’t command the confidence of the Senedd.

“His own party is completely divided under his leadership, unable to agree on anything, and it’s quite clear he’s going to really, really struggle to be able to pass a budget.

“And the idea that we can just limp on for two years until the next Senedd election unable to govern, unable to legislate, unable to unite for the sake of one man’s ego is absurd.”

The programme also heard from Labour’s new MP for Monmouthshire, Catherine Fookes, who said although she didn’t have anything to add further than the statements made by Mr Gething and Ms Blythyn, “the first minister does have my confidence, and we’ll have to see how it plays out”.

Earlier on Sunday, Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds said it is time for Mr Gething to stand down.

The Mid & West Wales MS told Radio Wales Sunday Supplement “the right thing for me at this point needs to be the first minister resigning”.

“There isn’t any other way through,” she said.

In response to being asked why opposition parties continue to raise their issues with Mr Gething’s conduct, she said: “Who is there to fight for somebody like Hannah Blythyn if it’s not the opposition parties?

“What we kept seeing time-after-time in the last few days is information revealed, which potentially shows that it didn’t happen the way the first minister has said it happened.”

She said that the Labour group could not “speak up” for Ms Blythyn, and that other parts of the Senedd had to “make sure that Hannah’s voice is really there in this debate”.

Ms Dodds added: “I’m worried about people’s mental health – not just Hannah’s, but others as well. I’m sure the first minister is under immense pressure.”

She said she had wanted to give the first minister a chance and had affirmed Mr Gething as first minister back in March.

“Action does speak louder than words and, sadly for me, I’ve come to this point where – like others in the siambr [chamber] – I don’t have confidence in the first minister and the issue with Hannah has affirmed that.”

Plaid Cymru MS Heledd Fychan said in a statement the first minister had been “embroiled in scandal since day one”.

“Not only has he lost the confidence of the Senedd and the people of Wales, there appears to be growing discontent in his own party too due to his lack of transparency and aversion to scrutiny surrounding the sacking of a minister who still maintains she’s done nothing wrong.

“Under Vaughan Gething, his government is unable to deliver on behalf of the people of Wales.

“The first minister must act on the wishes of the Senedd and put country before party.”

Labour Hefin David said he wants to see three things happen now.

“First of all, Hannah continues to feel a full and welcome part of the Labour group, which is really important,” he said.

“And that’s my ambition is to see her continue to play the full role. She can. She’s a good friend. The second is I think with the Conservatives motion on Wednesday calling for the release of the evidence – I think that evidence [over her sacking as a minister] should be released but done in a way that is sensitive that all participants have a say in that release and it’s put into context as well.

“And thirdly, I think we need to get on to things like tackling the cost of living crisis, the health service, now we’ve got a Labour government in Westminster. It’s time to take the opportunity now to work with them to solve the problems that we haven’t been able to solve while the Conservatives controlled the UK Treasury.”