LONDON: Vaughan Gething has resigned as the First Minister of Wales on Tuesday, marking an abrupt end to his tenure after just four months in office. His resignation follows a series of ministerial departures from the Welsh government, citing dissatisfaction with his leadership.
The 50-year-old Zambian-born Gething made history in March by becoming the first Black head of government in Europe. However, his brief time in office has been marred by controversies and challenges.
Gething faced criticism over a political donation, the transparency of his disclosures to the COVID-19 inquiry during his tenure as health minister, and his decision to dismiss a minister whom he accused of leaking information to the media. Last month, he suffered a non-binding vote of confidence, further intensifying pressure on his leadership.
“This has been the most difficult time for me and my family. Allegations of wrongdoing have been baseless, politically motivated, and entirely false,” Gething stated. “I have always acted with integrity and never for personal gain.”
The tipping point came 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, citing a lack of confidence in Gething’s ability to provide stable governance for Wales.
“Wales requires confident and stable leadership, which I believe you are currently unable to provide,” Antoniw wrote in his resignation letter to Gething.
Gething’s departure now triggers a second leadership contest within Wales this year. Plaid Cymru, which ended a cooperation agreement with Labour in May, called for a snap election following the recent political turmoil.
The Welsh government holds responsibilities over critical policy areas such as health and education, while decisions on defense and energy remain under the purview of the UK government in London, where Labour recently assumed power after 14 years in opposition.
The resignation represents a setback for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who recently met with Gething as part of his efforts to stabilize and rebuild Britain.
“I understand the difficulty of Vaughan’s decision, but I respect that he believes it is the best course of action for Wales at this time,” Starmer commented in response to Gething’s resignation.
