Vaughan Gething to RESIGN as First Minister after mass Labour resignations plunge Welsh government into chaos

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."

Gething said the last few months had been the most difficult time "for me and my family".

He added: "A growing assertion that some kind of wrongdoing has taken place has been pernicious, politically motivated and patently untrue.

"In 11 years as a minister, I have never ever made a decision for personal gain. I have never ever misused or abused my ministerial responsibilities. My integrity matters. I have not compromised it.

"I regret that the burden of proof is no longer an important commodity in the language of our politics. I do hope that can change.

"To those in Wales who look like me - many of whom I know feel personally bruised and worried by this moment, I know that our country can be better. I know that cannot happen without us."

Speaking at the Senedd this afternoon, the outgoing First Minister stated he had pursued his career in politics "to serve Wales".

He added: "Being able to show underrepresented communities that there is a place for them - for us - is an honour and a privilege that will never diminish."

But he slammed accusations of wrongdoing, saying that any "growing assertion" of the sort was not true, and emphasising his integrity, which he said he had "not compromised".

Gething added: "This has been an incredibly difficult time for me and for my family.

"I have worked hard, followed the rules, and done really difficult and demanding jobs for my country."

Welsh Conservatives Leader Andrew RT Davies said in response: "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. Wales will remember."

And Starmer issued his own statement in reaction to Gething's resignation, which read: "Vaughan should take enormous pride in being the first black leader of any country in Europe.

"That achievement will have broadened the ambitions and raised the gaze of a generation of young people in Wales and beyond.

"I know what a difficult decision this has been for him - but I also know that he has made it because he feels it is the best decision now for Wales.

"I wish him all the best in his future endeavours."

Taking to social media to announce their departures earlier today, Labour ministers Mick Antoniw, Lesley Griffiths, Julie James and Jeremy Miles all issued statements detailing the "pain", "sadness" and "regret" of leaving the under-fire FM's cabinet.

Gething had already taken severe flak over the last few days and weeks over his claims a series of leaked messages had come from from another minister, Hannah Blythyn, amid other scandals - which have now forced his hand.

Antoniw, Wales's Counsel General, was the first to issue his statement, which hit out at Gething for not being "capable of delivering... confident and stable government" in a scathing attack on the Welsh Labour leader.

Second came James, the housing secretary, who said the First Minister's reluctance to stand down and "never-ending" series of issues left her unable to serve in his government.

Minutes later, economy and energy secretary Jeremy Miles said the events of the last few months had been "incredibly painful", and though he praised Gething's "historic" leadership, said he could not continue in his role in the "interests of the country".

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Culture secretary Lesley Griffiths rounded out the four - her statement said Gething's response to the aforementioned leak scandal had been "deeply distressing" and claimed Wales's government "simply will not be able to put things back on track" under Gething's leadership.

The First Minister had come under heavy fire since his election earlier this year - leaked messages showed him threatening to delete correspondence from a WhatsApp group of Welsh ministers during the pandemic, while questions remain over a six-figure donation he received during his leadership campaign.

But the coordinated resignations are a significant escalation by ministers - who are believed to have met with Gething yesterday to voice their concerns directly.

While Gething continued to enjoy support from a faction of the Welsh Senedd's Labour members, the move from within his own government ultimately pushed him past the point of no return.

In response to the earlier resignations, Welsh Tory leader Davies said: "A day of shame for Labour.

"The self indulgence we've seen throughout Vaughan Gething's leadership has resulted in the breakdown of governance in Wales.

"But ministers like Jeremy Miles, who served in Gething's Cabinet, are equally culpable. Wales will remember."

Davies's Conservatives had tabled the vote of no confidence in the First Minister - which he then lost - last month.

It was a narrow loss, but a loss nonetheless; 29 Senedd Members voted in favour of the motion, while 27 voted against it, on June 5.

While the motion was non-binding and thus did not force Gething to stand down, today's attacks from within could push his government past the point of no return.