First Minister Vaughan Gething to face vote of no confidence in Senedd

Wales' First Minister Vaughan Gething will face a vote of no confidence when the Senedd returns next week.

The Welsh Conservatives confirmed they have today tabled a motion of no confidence in Mr Gething, with a debate and vote set to place on Wednesday, 5 June.

Mr Gething has faced sustained pressure after accepting £200,000 of donations to his recent Welsh Labour leadership campaign from a company whose owner was convicted of environmental offences, while his sacking of social partnership minister Hannah Blythyn from the Welsh Government cabinet after alleging she leaked material to the media prompted further scrutiny.

Labour holds 30 of the 60 seats in the Senedd, so for the vote of no confidence to succeed at least one Labour MS would need either to vote in favour of the motion or abstain.

Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, said: "Next week Senedd members will have the chance to have their say on Vaughan Gething’s judgement, his transparency, and his truthfulness.

“The litany of unanswered questions has paralysed the Welsh Government to the point that Gething has been completely unable to take action to address record NHS waiting lists, sliding educational attainment and high economic inactivity.

“It’s time to put an end to the obfuscation, the drift and the infighting and vote no confidence in Vaughan Gething.”

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer gave his backing to Mr Gething ahead of the confidence motion.

He told reporters on the General Election campaign trail in Worcester: “He is doing a good job, he was elected in and I’m looking forward to being with him in this campaign where we will campaign together for, what I hope will be, the next Labour government.”

The Welsh Government said the first minister is "focusing on delivering" on "the priorities" of people in Wales.