Plaid Cymru ends coalition with Welsh Labour

[YorkRailFan]

Plaid Cymru has pulled out of its co-operation agreement with the Welsh Labour government.

The two parties signed up to the three-year deal in 2021, agreeing to work together in a raft of policy areas in the Senedd.

However, the smaller partner has now withdrawn with immediate effect, seven months before the agreement was due to officially end.



In a statement, Plaid's leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said he was "proud of the way in which the agreement demonstrated a new way of doing politics which focused on areas of policy which impact people's everyday lives".

But he said he remained "deeply concerned" that Labour First Minister Vaughan Gething had failed to pay back a controversial £200,000 donation, and was "worried by the circumstances" around the sacking of Welsh minister Hannah Blythyn this week after a row over a leaked text message.

"I am also concerned by the emerging approach of the government in relation to some elements of the co-operation agreement, including the decision to delay action in supporting the poorest families in our communities, as evidenced most recently by the decision to delay council tax reform," added Mr Iorwerth."Plaid Cymru will move onwards with a clear and continued commitment to scrutinising Labour's record, and with a renewed determination to put forward bold ideas which match the people of Wales's ambitions for our country."

Mr Gething released his own statement, saying: "While it was always a time limited agreement, we are disappointed Plaid Cymru has decided to walk away from their opportunity to deliver for the people of Wales."After thanking the Plaid members of the Senedd he had worked with, Sian Gwenllian and Cefin Campbell, he said Welsh Labour would now "look closely at how we can progress the outstanding co-operation agreement commitments" around language education and housing.

Plaid Cymru pulls out of co-operation agreement with Welsh Labour

Party leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said he was "deeply concerned" about a donation made to First Minister Vaughan Gething, as well as the sacking of a minister earlier this week.

news.sky.com

Welsh Labour could enter a coalition agreement with the Lib Dems which would give them a majority in the Senedd. Gething looks to be safe as First Minister with Welsh Labour having 30 seats out of 60 in the Senedd, meaning any no confidence vote in which the Lib Dems vote in favour of the Welsh Government, Gething is safe.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 May 2024 ==

NEW: Welsh Labour First Minister Vaughan Gething will face a vote of no confidence next week

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The Welsh Conservatives have now tabled a vote of no Confidence in Gething. He should survive if the Lib Dems vote in favour of him and his Government.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Jun 2024 ==

BREAKING:

Welsh First Minister Vaughan Gething has lost a motion of no confidence.

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Well that was a short stint for Gething.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Vaughan Gething has announced he is quitting as Wales's first minister.

In a statement, he said: "I have this morning taken the difficult decision to begin the process of stepping down as leader of the Welsh Labour Party and, as a result, First Minister.

"Having been elected as leader of my party in March, I had hoped that over the summer a period of reflection, rebuilding and renewal could take place under my leadership.

"I recognise now that this is not possible.

"It has been the honour of my life to do this job even for a few short months." It comes after four ministers quit the Welsh government this morning, telling the Labour first minister they cannot get on with their jobs "without you standing down".

Mr Gething was elected to become First Minister in March but quickly faced an array of problems.

He came under sustained criticism for his decision to sack former minister Hannah Blythyn over the leak of a text message, which she denies being behind, and questions were raised about a controversial £200k donation to his leadership campaign.

This led to the collapse of a co-operation agreement between his party and Plaid Cymru and he subsequently lost a non-binding vote of no confidence in the Senedd (Welsh parliament) 29-27.Mr Gething said the motion was a "gimmick" and that opposition parties had declined to take part in a pairing arrangement to balance out the votes of two Labour members who were unwell.

Critics said Mr Gething's leadership campaign should not have accepted the donation from the company of a man previously convicted of environmental offences.

The Labour leader said the donation was within the rules and was declared in line with party protocols.

He refused calls for an inquiry into the donation, but instead commissioned a wider review into political donations.Mick Antoniw, Julie James, Lesley Griffiths and Jeremy Miles all quit their cabinet positions in a protest over Mr Gething's leadership.

Vaughan Gething to quit as Welsh first minister

Vaughan Gething said he had hoped "over the summer a period of reflection, rebuilding and renewal could take place under my leadership".

news.sky.com

The Welsh Lettuce, even Yousaf lasted longer in Scotland. Will be interesting to see if Welsh Labour goes with a Blairite or someone more like Drakeford.

 

[Busaholic]

Vaughan Gething to quit as Welsh first minister

Vaughan Gething said he had hoped "over the summer a period of reflection, rebuilding and renewal could take place under my leadership".

news.sky.com

The Welsh Lettuce, even Yousaf lasted longer in Scotland. Will be interesting to see if Welsh Labour goes with a Blairite or someone more like Drakeford.

Four of Gething's ministers earlier announced in separate statements that they had resigned i.e. it was similar to how Johnson lost office.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I should think this will put the skids on (partially) reversing the 20mph speed limit policy.
It seemed to be a Ken Skates initiative - he's currently minister for North Wales & Transport.
I wonder if he will run for FM?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I should think this will put the skids on (partially) reversing the 20mph speed limit policy.
It seemed to be a Ken Skates initiative - he's currently minister for North Wales & Transport.
I wonder if he will run for FM?

Might put the skates rather than the skids ( sorry feeble I know). On a more serious note, it is not easy running a country is it?

 

[brad465]

I don't know what Gething was thinking trying to double down and defend the indefensible. In an ideal world he'd never have accepted that dodgy donation, but if he paid it back once it was exposed that would have been the end of it and he'd have come out with only a dent in his reputation. Instead he tried the Boris Johnson trick of doubling down and hoping the scandal would go away (something that eventually didn't even work for Johnson once the weight of so many scandals became too much to handle).

 

[HSTEd]

I don't know what Gething was thinking trying to double down and defend the indefensible. In an ideal world he'd never have accepted that dodgy donation, but if he paid it back once it was exposed that would have been the end of it and he'd have come out with only a dent in his reputation. Instead he tried the Boris Johnson trick of doubling down and hoping the scandal would go away (something that eventually didn't even work for Johnson once the weight of so many scandals became too much to handle).

It is not an uncommon trait with lawyers to believe that the law is the only determinant of whether something is acceptable or not.
His donation was legal and thus it was fine, it apparently became difficult for him to conceive of people not agreeing with "the law".

 

[YorkRailFan]

Wales will have a Female FM:

Eluned Morgan is set to officially become first minister of Wales later.

The Senedd has been recalled from its summer break to nominate the new first minister after Vaughan Gething resigned.

Members of the Senedd (MSs) can take part in the vote virtually and arrangements have been made to allow them to take part from abroad.

The health secretary, who became leader of Welsh Labour last month, will become Wales' first female first minister.

Wales' new first minister Eluned Morgan set to be appointed - BBC News

The Senedd is recalled to appoint a first minister, with members allowed to take part from abroad.

www.bbc.co.uk

She has appointed former FM, Mark Drakeford as Health Secretary:

Former first minister Mark Drakeford is returning to government after being appointed as health secretary by Eluned Morgan.

Ms Morgan said he would do the job on an "interim basis" and "bring his significant knowledge and experience to bear to continue our work to improve transparency and delivery".

Mark Drakeford back in Welsh government as health secretary - BBC News

The ex-first minister is given the health job on an "interim basis" by one of his successors.

www.bbc.co.uk

Let's hope Ms Morgan can provide a steady set of hands at Welsh Labour for the next few years until Senedd elections in 2026.