Vaughan Gething, the first minister of Wales, has survived a vote of no confidence despite two members of the Welsh Labour Party being off sick. The vote was non-binding and followed criticism of Gething’s leadership campaign donations and his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as a recent case of alleged media leaking. Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth responded to the decision, saying that senior members of Welsh government had wanted the motion to go ahead.
According to the Welsh parliament, the Conservative Party had brought the motion, and while 29 Senedd members were in favour of it, 27 voted against. During the debate, which became emotional at times, Labour members of the parliament defended Gething and criticised the Tory motion as a “gimmick”.
Concerns had been raised over donations made to Gething’s campaign by a company with a previous environmental conviction. Speaking to reporters after the vote, Gething called the motion a “desperate gimmick”, adding that “months and months of innuendo are damaging and hurtful”.
Gething rose to office in March, having defeated Jeremy Miles in the Welsh Labour leadership contest. The Welsh parliament has 60 members, with Labour holding exactly half of the seats. The Conservatives have 16 representatives, with 13 members from Plaid Cymru and a single Liberal Democrat
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