Vaughan Gething’s leadership in jeopardy after four Welsh ministers resign | Vaughan Gething

Four ministers have resigned from the Welsh government in a potential blow to First Minister Vaughan Gething’s tenure.

Mick Antoniw, Julie James, Lesley Griffiths and Jeremy Miles have all resigned from their roles, urging Gething to step down after a turbulent period for the Welsh Labour leader.

In June, Gething refused to resign despite failing a confidence vote. The vote in the Senedd had been called by the Conservatives because of donations to Gething’s leadership campaign from a company owned by a man previously convicted of environmental offences.

The Prime Minister has also come under pressure following the sacking of Hannah Blythyn as social partnership minister, accusing her of being behind the leak of text messages which appeared to show he had advocated the deletion of messages that could be exposed under the Freedom of Information Act.

Gething faces another potentially damaging vote in the Senedd on Wednesday after the Conservatives tabled a motion to try to force him to publish the evidence he used to sack Blythyn.

Miles, the economy secretary, Antoniw, the county councillor, Griffiths, the culture and social justice secretary, and James, the housing and local government secretary, issued resignation letters on Tuesday.

Miles, who ran against Gething for the Welsh Labour leadership, told the Prime Minister: “We can’t go on like this.”

He added: “It is essential that we begin to repair the damage immediately, and I have come to the very regrettable conclusion that this cannot happen under your leadership.”

In his letter, Antoniw said: “Wales needs a confident and stable government. I do not believe you are capable of providing that.”

“You have lost a confidence vote in the Senedd. That is something I regard as being of major constitutional importance.

“It is clear that you no longer have a majority, that you will not be able to strike the deals needed to pass a budget and that, for all intents and purposes, the Senedd is rudderless.”

Griffiths said she was resigning “with a very heavy heart”.

“Relationships have fractured and it will take goodwill and strong leadership to repair them,” she wrote. “These unfortunate and deeply saddening events have had a significant impact on our ability to continue to serve the people of Wales.”

James said the fate of Wales’ devolution would be at risk if Gething went ahead.

She said: “We need to start repairing this damage immediately and I am extremely sorry to tell you that I do not believe you are capable of being the leader who can guide us through this.”

Welsh opposition parties have used the resignations to put further pressure on Gething.

Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies said: “Vaughan Gething’s tenure as First Minister is coming to an end.

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

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said: “Vaughan Gething has led a government of chaos and put his own interests before those of the Welsh people.

“For months, the First Minister’s poor judgment, aversion to control and ‘do nothing’ approach to governing have undermined the office of First Minister and brought Welsh politics into disrepute.

“It is rare that heads of government in a democracy have ignored the will of their parliament by continuing in office despite losing a confidence vote.”