Can Labour REALLY run the country? Bungling Welsh FM Vaughan Gething faces losing confidence vote TONIGHT because two of his assembly members are ‘off sick’
Under fire Vaughan Gething has been warned he could lose a vote of no confidence in the Senedd later today after two of his Work colleagues got sick.
Wales’ First Minister faces a showdown after just 81 days in office following the collapse of a partnership deal between Labor and Plaid Cymru.
Mr Gething has also been involved in a series of rows since replacing Mark Drakeford as leader of the Welsh Labor Party in March.
This includes controversy over £200,000 in donations from a man convicted of environmental crimes, as well as claims that Mr Gething may have deleted posts that could be relevant to the Covid investigation.
The Welsh Conservatives today tabled the motion of no confidence against Mr Gething, which will be voted on by Senedd members this evening.
Vikki Howells, chairman of the Welsh Labor group, admitted this morning that Gething could lose the vote because two Labor members are ‘unwell’.
Under fire Vaughan Gething has been warned he could lose a vote of no confidence in the Senedd later today after two of his Labor colleagues fell ill
Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer stood by Mr Gething last week as they stood together in the general election campaign
Opposition parties in the Senedd together have thirty seats – the same number as Labour.
Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer stood by Mr Gething last week as they stood together in the general election campaign.
Speaking at a meeting in Abergavenny, Sir Keir thanked Mr Gething for his “leadership” and said he was “looking forward to a new partnership” with the Prime Minister if Labor were to take over at Westminster.
Speaking to BBC Radio Wales Breakfast this morning, Ms Howells said she and the rest of the Welsh Labor group are behind Mr Gething and would not resign even if he lost.
She accused the Conservatives of refusing to align with Labor members.
Pairing is a process used in the British and Welsh parliaments whereby when a member of one party cannot vote, a member of the opposition agrees to also abstain.
She said: “The Tories knew that before they tabled this motion. Since yesterday we have been told that they refuse to mate with us.’
She added: “This is not a binding vote, binding votes are the votes cast at the ballot box in the Senedd elections.
‘No he [Mr Gething] should not have to resign because he has just won a democratic vote to become leader of Welsh Labour, which was cast on a one member, one vote basis.’
Ms Howells branded the no-confidence vote a “gimmick” by the Conservatives and insisted the vote and concerns about Mr Gething were not raised as a doorstep issue.
She added: “I can say with hand on heart that every member who will be in the chamber or voting online today will vote with all their heart and confidence in Vaughan Gething.”
Ms Howells declined to name the two Labor members who are ill.
Speaking in the Senedd yesterday, Mr Gething said he was ‘confident’ of winning the vote.
Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Welsh Conservatives, said: ‘According to the Welsh Labor leader, the Senedd has no confidence in Vaughan Gething.
‘The Welsh people have no confidence in Vaughan Gething. The only person who still supports Vaughan Gething is Keir Starmer.’
The Conservatives stressed that the linkage system is not normally used for important issues.
