✕
Close
Support truly
independent journalism
Support Now
Our mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.
Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.
Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.
Louise Thomas
Editor
Vaughan Gething has dramatically resigned as the first minister of Wales following mounting pressure to stand down after four of his ministers quit his government in protest.
In a statement announcing his resignation, Gething said he recognised that “rebuilding and renewal” was “not possible” under his leadership, but said allegations of wrongdoing on his part were “pernicious, politically motivated and patently untrue”.
In the wake of Vaughan Gething’s resignation, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth has called for a snap Senedd election, claiming “people of Wales have lost faith in the first minister”.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump’s running mate JD Vance sparked crossparty outrage among politicians after describing the UK as an “Islamist country” with nuclear weapons during a speech at a right-wing conference.
Angela Rayner claimed the would-be deputy US president was wrong about the UK but that she “looked forward” to meeting him and Mr Trump if he gets elected in November.
The shocking comments also caused anger among prominent Muslim political figures, with baroness Sayeeda Warsi accusing JD Vance of “Islamophobia” and the Muslim Council of Britain branding the remarks “divisive and dangerous”.
Key Points
- Gething resigns as Welsh first minister after pressure from Labour ministers
- Plaid Cymru calls for Welsh snap election after Gething’s resignation
- Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour blamed for ‘breakdown of governance in Wales'
- Four Welsh ministers quit and call for First Minister Gething to stand down
- Rayner slams Trump’s running mate JD Vance after ‘Islamist UK’ comment
- Sayeeda Warsi blasts ‘Islamophobic’ comment from Trump’s vice president
Boris Johnson speaks to almost empty room at Republican convention
A picture showed former prime minister Boris Johnson speaking to an almost empty room at the Republican National Convention, the Mirror reports.
He was spotted addressing rows of empty seats in a hotel ballroom in Milwaukee.
Salma Ouaguira16 July 2024 15:08 1721138325Gething insists he told the truth over leaked messages
First Minister Vaughan Gething has insisted that he was telling the truth over the alleged leak of messages and said he was “trying to protect other people”.
Referring to his written statement which related to the sacking of former social partnership minister Hannah Blythyn, Mr Gething said: “It sets out what did happen, it sets out why the evidence is so clear, as I said that I can be pretty clear that there was a photograph of that member’s phone.
“Now everything I’d said before then was about trying to avoid all the events of last week that have rolled on and on and on, I’ve done that in trying to protect other people.
“And I’ve been prepared to take flak and criticism for doing that, and that is exactly what has happened, but I expected at some point there’d be a pause to recognise that what I’d said was actually the truth, and that didn’t happen.”
Mr Gething added: “Other people need to reflect on what they wish to do in the future and how they exercise their own judgments and I hope all members take that seriously.”
Gething allies insists first minister ‘acted with incredible dignity'
Hefin David, one of the First Minister’s staunchest allies on the Labour benches in the Senedd, said Vaughan Gething has “acted with incredible dignity” but now was the time for him to go.
He said: “He has listened to the voices of those who left his government and has decided to stand down. I think he’s done what he thinks is in the best interest of Wales, that’s his choice. Naturally, as a supporter of Vaughan, I’m disappointed.
“What we have to do is unite and deliver for the people of Wales along the lines of the cost of living, the NHS, education, but really importantly Tata Steel. It’s really important that we continue to work on that and I’m confident that Vaughan in his last time as First Minister and whoever takes over will continue to do that.”
He added that Mr Gething standing down was “now in the best interest of Wales so that we can focus on policy”.
Asked if he had a candidate in mind to replace the First Minister he said it was “too early to think about that” and rejected Plaid Cymru’s calls for a snap election.
“It’s very dangerous if you have an election on that basis, I think you would be opening the door to chaos. We don’t want chaos, what we want is to deliver for the people of Wales.”
Salma Ouaguira16 July 2024 14:48 1721137528Home secretary braced for ‘difficult summer ahead’ on small boat crossings
Following a cabinet meeting this morning, Yvette Cooper told fellow ministers that there will be a “difficult summer ahead” on small boat crossings.
More than 1,000 people have crossed the Channel since the Labour government got elected, official figures reported.
A Downing Street readout of today’s Cabinet meeting said: “The Home Secretary said that small boats crossings were at a record high in the first half of the year and indicated a difficult summer ahead.
“Tackling illegal migration was therefore an important part of our European reset, where the government is working with European partners and agencies including Europol to tackle criminal gang networks and work to disrupt supply chains and illegal migration upstream.”
New fears Brexit has ‘drained life out of UK economy’ following IMF report
Opponents of Brexit have warned that the latest figures from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), confirm that leaving the EU “has drained the life out of the British economy”.
The claims come as Sir Keir Starmer’s new Labour government begin a reset of the UK’s relationship with the EU following their victory in the general election.
The prime minister is set to host European leaders at the European Political Council at Blenhiem Palace on Thursday just days after his new Europe affairs minister Nick Thomas-Symonds went to Brussels to starts talks on a new Brexit deal.
But the urgency of the problem appears to have been highlighted in the latest IMF projections.
According to the IMF the UK only grew 0.1 per cent in 2023 and will only grow by 0.7 per cent by the end of this year. While growth is set to double next year, according to the IMF, it will still only grow by 1.5 per cent.
Our political editor David Maddox has the full story:
New fears Brexit has ‘drained life out of UK economy’ following IMF report
The International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s July report warns ‘the global economy is in a sticky spot’ with the UK lagging behind most other major economies
Salma Ouaguira16 July 2024 14:35 1721136658Vaughan Gething confirms he will remain as first minister until successor is chosen
Mr Gething delivered a statement to the Senedd confirming his intention to resign as Welsh first minister.
During the conclusion speech, Mr Gething said: “There will and there must be in the future a government that looks like the country it serves. A government for all of us to make Wales a better place with, and for, all of us.”
As he finished his short speech, there was applause from members in the chamber.
Salma Ouaguira16 July 2024 14:30 1721136437Starmer vows to increase defence spending ‘responsibly’
Sir Keir Starmer has promised to deliver on his pledge to increase defence spending “responsibly”.
The prime minister said: “I promised to deliver change. I promised action not words. One of my first acts is to launch the Strategic Defence Review to bolster and respect our Armed Forces, responsibly increase defence spending and keep you safe.
“A new approach to tackle international threats head-on.”
It comes as Sir Keir was under fire after refusing to set out a timeline for a defence review and rise in spending.
Salma Ouaguira16 July 2024 14:27 1721136328Sunak hit by mass strike of Tory MPs before surprise snap election
Rishi Sunak was warned he was losing his grip on his own MPs after he was hit by a mass strike in the last days of his premiership.
In a sign of the pressure Mr Sunak was under before he shocked Westminster by calling a snap general election, the then prime minister was told the situation was unsustainable.
On a single day Conservative whips received a request from around 200 Tory MPs – well over half of the parliamentary party - to be slipped, or excused from voting, a former senior Downing Street insider said.
The phrase refers to allowing MPs to miss a whipped vote, often by “pairing” them with an opposition MP also away from Westminster that day.
Out Whitehall editor Kate Devlin has the full story:
Rishi Sunak hit by mass strike of Tory MPs before surprise snap election
Prime minister was warned that the situation had become unsustainable
Salma Ouaguira16 July 2024 14:25 1721135428Unions set to welcome employment measures in King’s Speech
Unions are expecting the King’s Speech to deliver a huger boost to workers’ rights and other employment measures promised by Labour in the run-up to the general election.
An Employment Bill is set to feature in the raft of planned legislation unveiled by the new government on Wednesday.
Measures are expected to include a ban on exploitative zero-hours contracts and fire and rehire policies, improvements to statutory sick pay and the minimum wage, and day-one rights to protection from unfair dismissal.
The bill will largely be based on the New Deal for Working People, a policy document Labour promoted in the run-up to the general election.
Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), said: “It’s vital that the King’s Speech contains substantial and ‘oven ready’ legislation to deliver Labour’s New Deal for Working People. Words alone are not enough.
“Working people rightly expect Keir Starmer to use the King’s Speech to clearly map out a specific timescale for fulfilling the manifesto commitment and repeated promises made ahead of the general election on workers’ rights.”
Salma Ouaguira16 July 2024 14:10 1721135059Vaughan Gething insists his party got on with job ‘despite all the noise'
Outgoing Welsh first minister Vaughan Gething has said he remains confident in the Labour Party and he is looking forward to seeing who is chosen to replace him, after he resigned earlier today.
During First Minister’s Questions on Tuesday, he said his party had got on with the job “despite all the noise”.
He added: “I am confident and positive about what my party can do in government and go before the people of Wales in 2026.
“I look forward to my party choosing from each of our members in a one member one vote contest to decide who that person will be, but I will carry on doing my duty for my country until such time that a new person is selected to take my place.”
Andy Gregory16 July 2024 14:04 Newer1 / 5OlderDisclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
