No confidence vote likely next week

The Senedd is set to hold a vote of no confidence in First Minister Vaughan Gething next Wednesday, following weeks of controversy surrounding donations to his recent leadership campaign and other issues.

The Welsh Conservatives have tabled the vote, raising questions about Gething's leadership amidst claims of impropriety and mismanagement.

The vote comes amid scrutiny over donations totaling £200,000 to Gething's leadership campaign from a company whose owner has a criminal record for environmental offenses. Despite maintaining that the donations were properly declared, the controversy has cast a shadow over Gething's leadership.

Additionally, there have been concerns raised over Covid-era text messages and the alleged dismissal of a minister accused of leaking information to the media.

Gething, who has received backing from UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, has expressed confidence in his position and stated that he is not expecting to lose the vote of no confidence.

However, the outcome of the vote would not be binding on the first minister but could significantly impact his standing within the Welsh government.

The Welsh Labour Party has defended Gething, with Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves dismissing the no confidence vote as a "desperate gimmick" by the Conservative Party.

Plaid Cymru, on the other hand, is likely to support the motion, with leader Rhun ap Iorwerth criticizing Gething for accepting donations from a convicted polluter, which he believes has undermined public trust.

The vote of no confidence comes at a critical time for the Welsh government, with the UK Labour Party in the midst of a general election campaign.

The outcome of the vote, if successful, could have repercussions on the leadership of the first minister and potentially impact the Labour Party's electoral prospects.