Four ministers resign over First Minister

Four key members of Vaughan Gething’s government have resigned from their posts and publicly urged the First Minister to step down, plunging the Welsh political landscape into turmoil.

Jeremy Miles, Mick Antoniw, Julie James, and Lesley Griffiths led a revolt, resigning from the cabinet on Tuesday morning after Mr Gething resisted their calls to stand down.

Mr Miles, who narrowly lost the race to become first minister, said the row over Mr Gething’s leadership has become a distraction, damaging the Labour party.

In his resignation letter, the former economy secretary warned: “We cannot continue like this. It is essential that we begin to repair the damage immediately and I have reached the conclusion very regrettably that this cannot happen under your leadership.

“I can’t see any way forward for us which allows us to get on with [the] job we are elected to do, without you standing down.”

‘Painful’

Mick Antoniw, who was counsel general, the Welsh Government’s chief legal adviser, wrote to the first minister, saying: “I feel it is necessary for me to give you advice that you need to receive no matter how painful.

“I must advise you that I do not believe you can continue as first minister.

“Wales needs confident and stable government. I do not believe you are capable of delivering that.

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

“It is clear you no longer command a majority, you will be unable to … pass a budget and, for all intents and purposes, the Senedd is rudderless.

“We are all here to do the best for our country. I believe it is now necessary for you to choose to put the country first and resign as first minister.”

‘Damaged’

In her resignation letter, Julie James, raised concerns about “real mistakes” over campaign donations and the “seemingly never ending series of related issues that have followed”.

The former housing secretary said she could see no way of agreeing a budget nor passing new laws, such as on homelessness, without cross-party support.

Ms James wrote: “This cannot be what you wanted and must have caused you and your family a lot of pain and I think has visibly caused huge divisions within the group and damaged both the country and the party.

“I think it also now threatens the continued existence of the devolution journey itself.”

“We must begin to repair this damage immediately and I am extremely sorry to tell you that I do not think you are capable of being the leader who can lead us through that change.

“I had asked you, in the interests of the country and the party, to stand down immediately.

“Given that you have not done so, it is with great regret that I feel I can no longer serve in your government. I am very sad indeed that it has come to this.”

‘Deeply upsetting’

Lesley Griffiths, the former social justice secretary, said penning her resignation letter was deeply upsetting after serving in government for the past 14 years.

She wrote: “I find it deeply distressing, from personal and professional perspectives, to see the negative impact all of this has had on relationships between long-standing colleagues and, in many cases, close friends.

“Relationships have fractured and will require goodwill and strong leadership to repair.

“These unfortunate and deeply saddening events have together impacted significantly on our ability to continue to deliver for the people of Wales.”

She added: “I have reached the conclusion that we simply will not be able to put things back on track under your leadership, leaving me with only one realistic option.”

Mr Gething is scheduled to appear in the Senedd for first minister’s questions at 1.30pm.

‘Chaos’

Following the mass resignations, Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Conservative group in the Senedd, 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….

“Wales will remember.”

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth 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 judgement, 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.”