Gething is confirmed as new FM

New Welsh Labour leader Vaughan Gething has been elected as the first minister of Wales. He succeeds Mark Drakeford, who resigned in an emotional speech on Tuesday after holding the position since 2018.

Mr Gething was elected as the Welsh Government leader by members of the Senedd yesterday.

He won the support of all the Labour members as well as Jane Dodds, the Senedd’s only Liberal Democrat member.

The Conservative and Plaid Cymru members voted for their respective party leaders.

The opposition parties putting forward alternative choices was largely symbolic, with neither having enough votes to secure the Welsh Government leadership role. The Senedd is made up of 60 members.

Mr Gething will not be the official first minister until he has written to the King.

Once the King has approved the position, he will be sworn in and a cabinet can be formed.

Welsh Labour members narrowly chose Mr Gething, 50, to be their next party leader on Saturday, receiving 51.7% of the vote compared to rival Jeremy Miles on 48.3%.

He will be the country’s fifth leader since the National Assembly for Wales, now called the Senedd, was established in 1999.

However, the BBC has reported that 14 Welsh Labour politicians met earlier this week to discuss concerns about a £200,000 donation Mr Gething received from a company that was found guilty of environmental offences in January.

Atlantic Recycling, which is part of Dauson Environmental Group and controlled by David Neal, gave the new first minister’s campaign £100,000 on December 18 2023 and £100,000 on January 11 2024.

Atlantic Recycling was also fined £300,000 over one of its workers’ deaths in February after it pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety at work rules.

Mr Gething and his team have rejected calls to pay back the money, insisting the donation was declared in line with Senedd and Electoral Commission rules and that the minister is committed to transparency.

Mr Gething defended his decision to take the donation and said “everyone has lessons to learn”.

TAKING OVER: Vaughan Gething was elected by the Welsh Senedd.