Gething to quit after four Welsh ministers resign

Wales’ first minister Vaughan Gething has announced plans to quit after four members of the Welsh government’s cabinet resigned over concerns regarding his leadership.

Former rural affairs secretary Lesley Griffiths and three other prominent Welsh Labour ministers – Jeremy Miles, Julie James and the Welsh government’s top legal adviser, counsel general Mick Antoniw – all announced their resignations on X (previously Twitter) on Tuesday morning (16 July).

I resign from the Welsh Government with a heavy heart. pic.twitter.com/O5QdxtQiCz

— Lesley Griffiths (@lesley4wrexham) July 16, 2024

Political commentators said the co-ordinated resignations were a clear attempt to oust first minster Mr Gething before the summer recess.

See also: Irranca-Davies: ‘My appointment is an opportunity for a reset’

At this stage, it is unclear what the mass resignations will mean for Welsh farming policy, especially the development and introduction of the Sustainable Farming Scheme, which is set to be rolled out in 2026.

Welsh first minister Vaughan Gething said on X: “I have taken the difficult decision to start the process of stepping down as Prif Weinidog.

“It has been the honour of my life to do this job, but it has also been the most challenging time, for me, and my family. I have always acted to serve Wales, and that will never stop.”

First minister Mr Gething appointed Huw Irranca-Davies, the Senedd member for Ogmore, as rural affairs secretary in March 2024, replacing Mrs Griffiths, who had held the role for eight years.

If a new first minister is appointed, it is unclear whether Mr Irranca-Davies would remain in his post.

The four ministers told the first minister on Monday (15 July) that they were unhappy about donations he received during his leadership campaign, his decision to sack their former cabinet colleague Hannah Blythyn, and his decision to stay on in the role despite being subject to a vote of no confidence.

In her resignation letter sent to Mr Gething, Mrs Griffiths explained: “Yesterday we discussed my concerns about the circumstances surrounding certain campaign donations you received, the outcome of the vote of no confidence, and the sacking of a ministerial colleague for leaking when no formal leak inquiry had taken place.”

Mrs Griffiths added that relations “have fractured” and “will require goodwill and strong leadership to repair”.

But she had concluded that Welsh Labour “simply will not be able to put things back on track” under Mr Gething’s leadership.

Opposition reaction

Opposition parties responded by saying it was time for Mr Gething to quit.

Andrew RT Davies MS, leader of the Welsh Conservatives, said: “Vaughan Gething’s time as first minister is rightly coming to an end.

“But Labour cannot fool the people of Wales. These ministers, like Jeremy Miles, sat in his cabinet, they stood by his side, and they are culpable for the breakdown of governance in Wales. Wales will remember.”

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth MS said: “Vaughan Gething has led a government of chaos and put his own self-interest before the interests of the people of Wales.

“For months, the first minister’s poor judgment, aversion to scrutiny and ‘do nothing’ approach to governing has undermined the office of first minister and brought Welsh politics into disrepute.

“Seldom have heads of government in a democracy disregarded the will of its legislature by carrying on despite losing a vote of confidence.”

He added: “The Labour Party has thrown its weight behind Vaughan Gething, and Keir Starmer has acted as his main cheerleader.

“The ministers who resigned today are equally culpable, they should have acted far sooner than their eleventh-hour intervention when it was a case of one bad headline too many.

“The people of Wales are losing faith in Labour’s ability to govern Wales. In its attitude of ‘our way or no way’ and in its record of delivery which is increasingly found wanting – Labour is out of ideas and running out of road with the public.”