"Possible" Senedd elections may not happen next spring as planned says health minister

Welsh Health Minister Vaughan Gething has said it is possible the next Senedd elections may not go ahead as planned.

The next elections are due on May 6th 2021, but speaking to ITV Wales Mr Gething said the coronavirus had caused a lot of uncertainty.

"No one is suggesting now that the elections cannot go ahead because we maybe able to say that we will be in a position by then [next May] when we may have a vaccine or effective antiviral treatment but I can't give you any certainty about that" he said.

"It's much better to be honest about that than to try and pretend that we absolutely will do everything according to a set timescale."

Two thirds of Senedd Members would need to approve any change of date.

He also defended the change in the Welsh Government's approach to testing in care homes.

From now on testing for Covid-19 will be offered to all residents and staff.Previously only homes with a confirmed case were tested.

Opposition parties say Welsh ministers have made a U-turn.

The Conservative's Shadow Minister for Social Care, Janet Finch-Saunders said it was shameful that the expansion could not have been implemented sooner given that capacity in testing is increasing.

WhilePlaid Cymru's Shadow Minister for Local Government Delyth Jewell said not testing everyone in a care home until now should be the subject of examination in a future inquiry.

But the health minister said he hasn't made any U-turns but had "developed and changed policy."