Vaughan Gething elected as Welsh Labour leader

Vaughan Gething has been elected as the next Welsh Labour leader, succeeding Mark Drakeford.

The 49-year-old economy minister beat his only rival, education minister Jeremy Miles, with 51.7% of the vote.

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The announcement was made on Saturday at Cardiff University, with Mr Gething expected to take over as First Minister of Wales on Wednesday following a vote in the Senedd.

This transition comes at a challenging time for Wales, with issues such as farmer protests, NHS waiting lists, and economic recovery from the pandemic at the forefront.

However, the leadership race has not been without controversy, particularly around concerns raised regarding donations Mr Gething received from a company found guilty of environmental offences. Despite this, Mr Gething and his team maintain that all rules and regulations were followed in declaring the donations.

This election marks a significant moment for Welsh Labour, as Mr Gething is set to become the fifth leader since the establishment of the Senedd in 1999.

The handover of power from Mr Drakeford will take place in the coming days, with a vote in the Senedd to finalise the transition.