Vaughan Gething to be the next minister of Wales

Vaughan Gething has been elected as the next Labor leader in Wales and as the First Minister of Wales, the first black leader of any European country.

Mr Gething, 49, was chosen by Welsh MPs to be the next leader of their party, succeeding Mark Drakeford, who has been in the post since 2018.

Mr Gething beat his only rival, education minister Jeremy Miles.

Welsh Labor said Vaughan Gething won 51.7% of the vote compared to Jeremy Miles with 48.3%.

In total, 57.8% of members and 9.4% of affiliates voted, making the total voting 16.1%.

The current economy minister, Mr Gething, is expected to be announced as the country’s fifth leader since the National Assembly of Wales, now known as the Senate, was formed in 1999.

His appointment as Labor leader in Wales was announced on Saturday morning in a lecture hall at Cardiff University.

However, he will not become prime minister until Wednesday – when a vote will take place in Parliament.

Speaking to the Labor membership, Mr Gething said: “Today we are turning the page in our nation’s history book.

“History we write together.

“Not only because I have the honor of being the first black leader of any European country, but because the dial has also jumped from generation to generation.

“Devolution was not something I had to get used to or adapt to or apologize for.

“Devolution – British solutions to British problems and opportunities – is in my blood, I’ve always known that throughout my adult political life, and it’s the same for a growing number of our citizens .

“I want us to use this moment as a starting point, for a more confident march into the future.

“March out here for the generation that is too often asked to pick up the pieces and foot the bill for those who came before them.”

He said in a struggle that the Welsh cannot match, “fighting tooth and nail” for the impossible to happen.

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“Wales have every right to be confident, Yma o Hyd is not enough (yet here).

“Of course we’re still here, we’ve always been here, we’ll always be here.”

He also praised his predecessor, Mr. Drakeford and his opponent, Mr. Miles.

He described Mr Drakeford as the “right leader at the right time,” with a “forensic approach” to public policy through the pandemic.

On Mr Miles he said he hoped “once the dust had settled” they would be friends.

He said: “Jeremy, the story you have told, the example you have already set and the ideas you have promoted in this campaign have helped change Wales for the better.”

The move comes as Wales faces a challenging period, including farmers protesting, NHS waiting lists at record highs and an economy recovering from the coronavirus pandemic.

Only members of Labor in Wales or part of an affiliated organisation, such as a trade union, could take part in the vote – meaning around 100,000 people could take part.

Mr Gething had the support of most of the major unions, and Lord Kinnock, who led the UK party from 1983 to 1992.

Although Mr Miles was supported by the majority of Labor members in Parliament.

The leadership race was not without controversy, with most of it focused on Mr Gething.

A string of concerns has been raised about £200,000 of donations to Mr Gething from a company found guilty of environmental offenses in January.

Atlantic Recycling, which is part of Dauson Environmental Group and controlled by David Neal, gave Mr Gething £100,000 on 18 December 2023 and £100,000 on 11 January 2024.

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

Earlier this week the BBC revealed that Mr Gething lobbied regulators in favor of the company, asking Natural Resources Wales to ease restrictions on Atlantic Recycling in 2016.

Mr Gething and his team have always insisted that the donation was announced in accordance with the rules of Parliament and the Electoral Commission and that the Minister is committed to transparency.

Concerns were also raised early in the campaign about Unite’s support for Mr Gething, after his opponent was disqualified because he had “never held an elected lay office as a representative of workers”.

Mr Miles said it was “a new rule that nobody knew about” and members were unhappy.

But Unite insisted it carried out the nomination process properly and Mr Gething said it was up to the union to determine its own democratic processes.

Unlike previous Labor leadership elections, all votes are weighted together.

The selection used an “electoral college” system in the past, which gave more weight to MPs and Members of Parliament.

Mr Drakeford is not expected to stand down immediately, with his final prime minister’s questions on March 19.

There will also be a need for a vote in Parliament where opposition groups can put forward their own candidates.

With Labor as the largest party, it is unlikely that any other group would take the role.

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth MS said: “I congratulate Vaughan Gething on winning the Welsh Labor leadership election.

“If elected as Prime Minister on Wednesday as expected, his own party’s record means he will inherit significant challenges.

“He sat around the Cabinet table and held key portfolios while the Welsh economy stagnated, NHS waiting lists have grown, and child poverty remains a national scandal. Nothing that was said during the leadership campaign suggests that we will now see a gear shift in tackling these enormous challenges.

“But he also brings his own personal problems. It is a matter of great concern that we now have a new Prime Minister who has serious allegations and questions about his judgment before even assuming the highest public office.

“At the very least, Vaughan Gething should certainly withdraw the £200,000 campaign donation that has drawn so much criticism from his own party and beyond.

“This is not as good as it gets for Wales. The people of Wales deserve a party with a real vision for the future – a party based on fairness and ambition, and that’s what a vote for Plaid Cymru can offer.”

Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Conservatives in Wales, congratulated Mr Gething, promising to work with him on a range of issues.

He said: “I would say it will be business as usual because he is cut from the same cloth as Mark Drakeford, but I offer this to Vaughan Gething.

“As he comes in as Prime Minister, we are happy to work with you as First Minister to get rid of 20MPH, to change the sustainable farming scheme and ensure that no more politicians come to Cardiff Bay with that money to invest in the. health service.”

Mr RT Davies accused Labor of having “a lot of extremist views” on its backbenches, vowing to give Mr Gething the votes to “deliver common sense” and deliver improvements in the Welsh NHS , in education and the economy.

“It’s time to deliver on the people’s priorities,” he said.