Vaughan Gething: Why the first minister of Wales is facing a confidence vote
Wales’s first minister Vaughan Gething is set to face a motion of no confidence on Wednesday.
After serving as both health and economy minister, Mr Gething made history in March after he was elected the first black leader of a European nation.
He has faced a turbulent first couple of months in office and a motion of no confidence has been tabled in his leadership.
Why was the vote of no confidence called?
The vote’s been called after concerns were raised, including by some within Welsh Labour, around a £200,000 donation to Mr Gething’s leadership campaign from a company whose owner was previously convicted of environmental offences.
Secondly, text messages from a ministerial group chat from during the pandemic were leaked last month, in which Mr Gething appeared to suggest his intention to delete messages.
This has prompted accusations from some opposition members that he may have misled the COVID Inquiry, but Mr Gething denies the messages were related to Welsh government business.
Hannah Blythyn, the deputy minister for social partnership was later sacked by Mr Gething for allegedly leaking to the media.
Plaid Cymru then withdrew from a cooperation agreement with Labour which had seen the party lend its support to the government on dozens of policies.
Vaughan Gething. Pic: Welsh government/PA
Who tabled the motion and who will support it?
The motion has been tabled by the Welsh Conservatives, who have 16 seats in the Senedd. Plaid Cymru have said they will support it too, they have 12 seats but one of its members is the presiding officer (Llywydd) and does not normally vote.
The sole Liberal Democrat member has also said she will vote for the motion.
Labour has 30 seats, though, half of the Senedd’s total number. One of the Labour MSs is the deputy presiding officer and therefore does not normally vote due to his role.
What happens if there’s a tie?
If there is a tie, then whoever is in the presiding officer chair at the time must vote to maintain the status quo. In this case, that would be against the motion of no confidence.
What if a member can’t attend?
If, for whatever reason, any member cannot attend the Senedd for a vote, then proxy votes can be arranged.
Pic: Joann Randles/Cover Images/AP
Is the vote binding?
As this is a motion of confidence in an individual minister and not the government as a whole, the vote is non-binding and the first minister would not have to step down, even if he were to lose the vote.
What have the first minister/Labour said?
Labour has accused the Conservatives of “playing politics” by bringing forward the motion.
Mr Gething said at First Minister’s Questions on Tuesday that he was “looking forward” to responding to the debate. He also reiterated that all rules had been followed and the ministerial code had not been broken.
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What about the opposition parties?
The Conservatives say Mr Gething has “treated the people of Wales with contempt” and that his “authority is shot”.
Plaid Cymru say the first minister has “undermined his own office” and that his unwillingness to admit any error “signifies a worryingly care-free attitude”.
The Liberal Democrats say the first minister has “not met” the standards expected of him.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq over allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.
It comes after the current Bangladeshi leader, Muhammad Yunus, said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated.
He told the Sunday Times the properties should be handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”.
Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq.
“He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.
“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”
Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong”.
Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.
Ms Siddiq is also named with her aunt in Bangladesh court documents about meetings with the Russian government.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir to sack the minister
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As economic secretary to the Treasury, Ms Siddiq is responsible for policy on both the City and tackling corruption.
She referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics watchdog on Monday following the reports about the properties.
On the same day, the prime minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.
“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”
Police in Aberdeen have widened the search area for two sisters who disappeared four days ago in the city.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV on Market Street after leaving their home on Tuesday at around 2.12am.
The sisters – who are part of a set of triplets and originally from Hungary – crossed the Victoria Bridge to the Torry area and turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti were last seen on CCTV in Market Street. Pic: Police Scotland/PA
They headed in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club but officers said there is no evidence to suggest the missing women left the immediate area.
Specialist search teams, police dogs and a marine unit have been trying to trace the pair.
The sisters crossed Victoria Bridge before walking along a footpath next to the River Dee
The pair were heading in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club on the south side of the River Dee
Further searches are being carried out towards the Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour and Duthie Park.
Police Scotland said it is liaising with authorities in Hungary to support the relatives of the two sisters.
Chief Inspector Darren Bruce said: “Eliza and Henrietta’s family are understandably extremely worried about them and we are working tirelessly to find them.
“We are seriously concerned about them and have significant resources dedicated to the inquiry.”
The sisters, from Aberdeen city centre, are described as slim with long brown hair.
Henrietta Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Eliza Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Officers have requested businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review their CCTV footage for the early morning of Tuesday 7 January.
Police added they are keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from that time.
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