- Author, Nick Bourne
- Role, BBC News
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Welsh First Minister Vaughan Gething can no longer inspire confidence in the Senedd and must resign, according to his political opponents.
Welsh Conservative Tom Giffard said Welsh Labour was “completely divided under his leadership” and would be “unable to govern, unable to legislate”.
Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds said it was time for Mr Gething to “do the right thing” and resign.
Hefin David, MP for Caerphilly, said the Prime Minister retains the support of the Labour group in the Senedd.
He also described Hannah Blythyn as “one of the most important members” of the group, despite her dismissal following a leaked text.
On Friday, Mr Gething insisted he was continuing his work, despite ongoing controversy over it and criticism over controversial donations to his leadership campaign.
Mr Giffard, a Senedd member for South West Wales, told BBC Politics Wales on Sunday: “The idea that we can just go ahead as the Prime Minister wants and talk about whatever he wants to talk about is not the way it works.
“He cannot gain the confidence of the Senedd.
“His own party is completely divided under his leadership, unable to agree on anything, and it’s quite clear that he’s going to have a really, really hard time getting a budget through.
“And the idea that we can just limp along for two years until the next Senate election, unable to govern, unable to legislate, unable to unite because of one man’s ego, is absurd.”
The programme also heard from Monmouthshire’s new Labour MP, Catherine Fookes, who said that while she had nothing to add beyond the statements made by Mr Gething and Ms Blythyn, “the Prime Minister has my confidence, and we’ll see how that goes”.
Earlier on Sunday, Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds said it was time for Mr Gething to resign.
Image source, BBC | PA Media
“There is no other solution,” she said.
Asked why opposition parties continue to raise issues with Mr Gething’s conduct, she said: “Who is there to fight for someone like Hannah Blythyn if it’s not the opposition parties?
“What we have seen repeatedly in recent days is information coming to light that potentially shows that things did not happen as the Prime Minister said.”
She said the Labour group could not “speak” for Ms Blythyn, and other parts of the Senedd needed to “ensure that Hannah’s voice is truly present in this debate”.
Ms Dodds added: “I worry about people’s mental health, not just Hannah’s but everyone else’s. I’m sure the Prime Minister is under immense pressure.”
She said she wanted to give the prime minister a chance and confirmed Mr Gething as first minister last March.
“Actions speak louder than words and unfortunately for me, I have reached that point where, like others in the world, [chamber] – I don’t trust the Prime Minister and the Hannah affair has confirmed that.
Plaid Cymru MP Heledd Fychan said in a statement that the First Minister had been “embedded in scandal from day one”.
“Not only has he lost the confidence of the Senedd and the people of Wales, but there also appears to be growing discontent within his own party over his lack of transparency and aversion to the scrutiny surrounding the sacking of a minister who still maintains she did nothing wrong.
“Under Vaughan Gething, his government is failing to deliver for the Welsh people.
“The Prime Minister must act on the wishes of the Senedd and put country before party.”
Labour MP Hefin David said he wanted to see three things happen now.
“First of all, Hannah continues to feel like a full and welcome member of the Labour group, which is really important,” he said.
“And it is my ambition to see her continue to play her full role. She can. She is a good friend. The second thing is that I think with the Conservative motion on Wednesday calling for the release of evidence – I think that evidence [over her sacking as a minister] Information should be disseminated, but in a sensitive way, so that all participants have their say and it is also put into context.
“And thirdly, I think we need to tackle issues like the cost of living crisis, the health system, now that we have a Labour government in Westminster. It’s time to seize the opportunity to work with them to solve the problems that we couldn’t solve when the Tories were in control of the Treasury.”
