The Welsh Conservatives have initiated a vote of no confidence against Vaughan Gething, the Labour First Minister of Wales. The motion is slated for debate and vote on June 5, 2024, in the Senedd, the Welsh Parliament.
Gething, who has served as First Minister since March 16, 2024, faces scrutiny over several issues. Key among them is a £200,000 donation to his Labour leadership campaign from a businessman with environmental criminal convictions. Critics argue this reflects poor judgment on Gething's part. Additional concerns include allegations of him deliberately deleting WhatsApp messages relevant to the UK Covid-19 inquiry and the recent dismissal of Hannah Blythyn from his government under controversial circumstances.
The leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies, stated that Gething's leadership has been hampered by a "litany of unanswered questions" and that the Welsh Government has been paralyzed, failing to address important issues like NHS waiting lists and educational attainment.
The vote of confidence will require some Labour members, who hold 30 out of 60 seats in the Senedd, to either abstain or vote in favor of the motion for it to pass. Gething's leadership has also seen internal dissent within Welsh Labour and a recent withdrawal of co-operation by Plaid Cymru, further complicating his tenure.