Vaughan Gething latest: Wales First Minister resigns amid chaos for Starmer’s Labour

If you’re just joining us, here’s a recap of everything that happened this morning:

• Vaughan Gething has resigned as Welsh First Minister after three ministers and his chief legal adviser quit in protest at his leadership.

• In a resignation statement, Mr Gething acknowledged that “reconstruction and renewal” were not possible under his leadership but denied any wrongdoing.

• He resigns after months of wrangling over alleged donations to Mr Gething from a company owned by a man convicted of environmental offences, after losing a vote of no confidence and after the controversial sacking of a minister.

• In response, Plaid Cymru called a snap Senate election and the Welsh Conservatives branded it a “day of shame for Labour”.

Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer welcomed Vaughan Gething’s departure and said it was “long overdue”.

Speaking on the BBC’s Politics Live programme, she said: “(Gething) had to go, and I’m glad he’s gone. And I hope Wales will now rethink and reshape where it goes next.”

Ms Denyer added: “I think this is long overdue. The Prime Minister has been mired in controversy and scandal for some time and unfortunately Wales has not had a truly functioning government in the first few months.”

The Green MP said the resignation was a “symptom” of the attitude of the Welsh Labour Party, which she said “does not appear to be responding well to scrutiny and is perhaps taking some of its constituents in Wales for granted”.

Labour MP Clive Lewis was sworn in as a new MP for a second time after refusing to pledge his allegiance to the King’s “heirs and successors”.

In his first oath, he declared: “I take this oath under protest and in the hope that one day my fellow citizens will decide democratically to live in a republic.

“Until then, I do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, according to law.”

But the full oath also includes “his heirs and successors” after mentioning the King.

Speaking again in the House of Commons today, Mr Lewis said: “I was elected to Parliament to represent my constituents and our country to the best of my ability in defending democracy and standing up for human rights and I hope that one day all Members of Parliament will be entitled to take an oath of allegiance based on these values.

“I do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors, according to law.”

Treasury Secretary James Murray has said he did not know what Donald Trump’s vice-presidential nominee JD Vance was getting at when he described the UK as an “Islamist country”.

The Treasury Secretary told Sky News: “I don’t really understand those comments.”

He added: “I definitely heard that comment, and I don’t know what he meant by that, to be honest. I mean, in Britain we’re very proud of our diversity.”

“I’m very proud that we have a new government, I’m very proud that our Labour government is committed to national security and economic growth. I know very well where we are. I don’t really see how that comment fits into the context.”

As for whether the UK has an ongoing “special relationship” with the US, Mr Murray said: “I think it does, and I think we have a special bond, regardless of individuals or individual comments.

“In fact, that connection between the two countries goes back a long way of course, but it’s also a very important connection that we have between the UK and the US, and it will be in Britain’s interests that we make sure that we work with the US on security, economic growth and so on.”

The Welsh First Minister is expected to make a personal statement to the Senedd following his resignation shortly.

Vaughan Gething will take part in Prime Minister’s Questions posed by opposition group leaders.

He will then take part in another debate discussing the Welsh Government’s priorities.

“I was talking about the question: what is the first truly Islamist country to get nuclear weapons?” he said. “Maybe it will be Iran, maybe Pakistan already has one, and then we finally decided that it will actually be the United Kingdom – because the Labour Party has just taken power.”

Sir Keir Starmer said Vaughan Gething’s departure was the “best decision for Wales” in a statement thanking the Prime Minister.

On X, formerly Twitter, the Prime Minister said: “Vaughan should be immensely proud to be the first black leader of a European country. It will have broadened the ambitions and raised the sights of a generation of young people in Wales and beyond.”

“I know how difficult this decision has been for him, but I also know he has made it because he believes it is the best decision for Wales.

“I wish him all the best in his future endeavours.” “Vaughan should be immensely proud to be the first black leader of a European country. It will have broadened the ambitions and raised the sights of a generation of young people in Wales and beyond.

“I know how difficult this decision has been for him, but I also know he has made it because he believes it is the best decision for Wales.

“I wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

It comes as Sir Keir said he had confidence in Mr Gething despite losing a vote of no confidence.

The Conservatives have criticised Labour’s devolution plans, saying the party is “giving with one hand and taking with the other”.

Dubbed the “decentralisation revolution”, the Cabinet Minister said the government’s doors are open to regions that want to engage and embrace decentralisation for the first time.

But the Conservatives criticised the move and accused Ms Rayner of building on local communities’ green belt.

A Conservative Party spokesman said: “Labour gives with one hand and takes away with the other. Last week Angela Rayner removed the power of local authorities to stop Labour concreting over the Green Belt.

“The Conservatives will hold Labour to account to ensure local residents receive accountable and responsive local services.”

Scottish First Minister John Swinney said he was “very sorry” to hear of Vaughan Gething’s resignation.

“I am very sorry to hear this news and I wish @PrifWeinidog the best of luck,” he posted on X – formerly Twitter.

“The Scottish and Welsh governments are working closely together and I hope that will continue in the future.”

Labour’s New Deal is a flagship policy that has already divided the party, with Keir Starmer accused of watering down the bill to favour business, he writes. Sean O’Grady: