Vaughan Gething resigned as the First Minister of Wales on Tuesday, after serving for only four months, amidst a series of resignations from Welsh government ministers who protested against his leadership. Gething, 50, who was born in Zambia, made history in March as the first Black leader of a government in Europe, but his tenure was marked by controversy. He faced criticism for the origins of a political donation, the openness of his contributions to the Covid-19 inquiry during his tenure as health minister, and his dismissal of a minister accused of leaking information to the press. Last month, he suffered a defeat in a non-binding vote of confidence.
"This period has been incredibly challenging for me and my family. The increasing claims of misconduct have been harmful, politically driven, and blatantly false," Gething stated, announcing his intention to resign as leader of the Welsh Labour Party and First Minister. "I have never made a decision for personal benefit. I have never abused my ministerial duties. My integrity is important to me, and I have not compromised it." The situation escalated when four Welsh ministers—Counsel-General Mick Antoniw, housing minister Julie James, economy and energy secretary Jeremy Miles, and culture minister Lesley Griffiths—resigned on Tuesday.
"Wales requires a confident and stable government. I do not believe you can provide that," Antoniw wrote in his resignation letter to Gething. Gething's resignation sets the stage for another leadership contest in Wales this year. Plaid Cymru, which terminated a cooperation agreement with Labour in Wales in May, has called for an immediate election. The Welsh government oversees policies in areas like health and education, while other areas such as defense and energy are managed by the UK government in London, which recently transitioned to Labour after 14 years of opposition.
This instability is a setback for new UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has pledged to stabilize and rebuild Britain. Starmer, who met with Gething just over a week ago as part of a nationwide tour, expressed understanding for Gething's decision. "I know how tough this choice was for him—but I also understand that he made it because he believes it is the right move for Wales," Starmer said in a statement.
