VAUGHAN ULTIMATUM Welsh government in chaos as First Minister QUITS hours after 4 of his own cabinet launched mutiny in headache for Keir
WALES' First Minister Vaughan Gething has today announced he will QUIT - just hours after four of his Cabinet launched a mutiny.
The embattled Labour chief said he has "taken the difficult decision to begin the process of stepping down" following the coordinated resignation onslaught this morning.
He has been on the ropes following a row over dodgy campaign donations that saw him lose a confidence vote in the Welsh Assembly earlier this year.
Mr Gething - who was only elected in March - had been trying to limp on ever since but has now thrown in the towel after four of his ministers resigned in protest.
It marks the first proper political headache for Sir Keir Starmer who has stuck by his Welsh counterpart during the saga.
In his resignation statement just four months into the job, Mr Gething said: "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."
Mr Gething lost a confidence vote in the Senedd shortly after being elected First Minister in March.
It stemmed from a £200,000 donation he accepted during his leadership campaign from a firm owned by a man convicted of environmental offences.
He was also slammed for firing one of his ministers Hannah Blythyn over suspected leaking which she denied.The saga ultimately led to the Plaid Cymru party to pull out of their power-sharing agreement with Labour.
Welsh Tory leader Andrew RT Davies said this morning: "Vaughan Gething’s resignation is long overdue.
"But there can be no doubt that his Labour colleagues, from those who resigned today all the way up to Keir Starmer, have stood by his side, and are culpable for the breakdown in governance in Wales.
Among the resignations was economy secretary Jeremy Miles, who ran against Mr Gething for the leadership, said: “We cannot continue like this."
In a blistering letter he said: “The events of the last few months, including your loss of the confidence vote in the Senedd, have been incredibly painful".
He added: "It's 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."
Welsh Culture and Social Justice Secretary Lesley Griffiths also said she would resign "with a very heavy heart".
She added: “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."
Counsel general Mick Antoniw and Housing Secretary Julie James also quit the government in a coordinated strike.
Mr Gething is the first black leader of a European country and became known during the pandemic as Wales' Health Secretary.
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