News

Vaughan Gething could lose no confidence vote due to sick colleagues

Published

2 years ago

June 5, 2024

First Minister Vaughan Gething is poised to face a critical vote of no confidence today, amid mounting controversy over his leadership and campaign funding. The Senedd vote, initiated by the Conservatives, comes after sustained criticism of Gething’s acceptance of donations from a company owned by an individual previously convicted of environmental offences. With significant internal party strife and key members absent, Gething is expected to lose the vote, which could significantly undermine his authority.

In a revealing interview with BBC Radio Wales Breakfast, Vikki Howells, chair of the Labour group of Members of the Senedd (MSs), disclosed that two Labour MSs are currently unwell and unable to attend the vote. This development places Gething’s leadership in jeopardy, as Labour’s narrow majority in the Senedd requires full attendance for a definitive win. The absent MSs are Hannah Blythyn and Lee Waters, both significant figures in Welsh Labour’s internal dynamics. Blythyn, recently sacked by Gething, and Waters, a former transport minister who has previously called for the contentious donations to be returned, are pivotal in this unfolding drama.

Their absences, compounded by the lack of proxy voting or remote participation options, have thrown Labour’s plans into disarray. Labour holds exactly half of the 60 seats in the Welsh Parliament, meaning every vote is crucial for maintaining Gething’s position. Without Blythyn and Waters, Labour is left vulnerable, especially as the Conservatives, along with Plaid Cymru and Welsh Liberal Democrat Jane Dodds, have refused to agree to a pairing arrangement to offset the absences.

The Conservatives’ motion could succeed if even one Labour MS rebels, abstains, or does not participate in the vote. This potential outcome has turned the vote into a high-stakes affair, with significant implications for Gething’s leadership. Vikki Howells criticised the vote as a “gimmick” by the Conservatives, aiming to distract from their own performance over the past 14 years in government. She emphasised that such votes should be decided by the public in a general election, not by parliamentary manoeuvres.

Plaid Cymru has accused Gething of showing contempt towards the Senedd. Their leader, Rhun ap Iorwerth, highlighted the internal conflict within Labour over this issue. “Are there Labour members who are wrestling with their conscience? Absolutely, we know there are,” he said, pointing to a fracturing within the party ranks.

Gething, who ascended to the position of First Minister just 77 days ago, has been under intense scrutiny following revelations that he received a £200,000 donation from Dauson Environmental Group during his leadership campaign. The company’s owner, David John Neal, has a history of environmental violations, further fuelling the controversy.

Throughout the leadership contest, Gething faced calls from within Labour to return any remaining funds from Dauson, a plea he has largely ignored. Additionally, Gething’s credibility has been questioned over his handling of a leaked message during the pandemic and the subsequent sacking of Blythyn, who has not spoken in the Senedd since.

The Conservative leader, Andrew RT Davies, laid out the rationale behind the no-confidence motion, citing concerns about Gething’s judgement, transparency, and honesty. “One there’s a question of judgement, two there’s a question around transparency and three there’s an issue around honesty,” he stated on BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

While today’s vote is technically non-binding and does not necessitate Gething’s immediate resignation, the political ramifications are significant. A loss would underscore a weakening grip on his party and diminish his authority, casting a shadow over his nascent leadership. This vote underscores the turbulent nature of Welsh politics, where internal party strife and external criticisms can converge to threaten even the most newly established leadership.

The origins of this controversy trace back to Gething’s Welsh Labour leadership election victory in March. His campaign was notably dominated by the £200,000 donation from Dauson Environmental Group. Public reaction from Labour politicians was largely muted during the campaign itself, but Gething has failed to prevent private anger from rising to the surface. There were calls from within Labour for the party not to take any remaining money from Dauson, as it normally would with leftover funds from campaign contests.

Adding to Gething’s woes, he found himself defending a controversial message he sent during the pandemic. As then-health minister, Gething informed colleagues he was deleting texts from a ministerial group chat, an action that has drawn criticism and raised questions about transparency and accountability. His subsequent sacking of Hannah Blythyn, which he attributed to her being the source of a leak, has not been backed by evidence, leading to further discontent and demands for clarity.

In a political environment where every move is scrutinised, Gething’s ability to unify his party and command respect in the Senedd has been called into question. The no-confidence vote, while non-binding, is seen as a litmus test for his leadership. Should Gething fail to rally his party members, the implications could be profound, potentially triggering a leadership crisis within Welsh Labour.

As the Senedd convenes to cast their votes, the political stakes could not be higher. The outcome of this vote will not only determine Vaughan Gething’s immediate political future but also shape the broader narrative of Welsh politics in the months to come.

Farming

Basic Payment Scheme 2025 balance paid to 95% of Welsh farmers

Published

6 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Final year of BPS as transition to Sustainable Farming Scheme begins

The WELSH Government says more than ninety-five per cent of farm businesses have now received their full or balance payment under the final year of the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), ahead of the introduction of the new Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) in 2026.

Announcing the update on Friday (Dec 12), Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, confirmed that over 15,400 Welsh farm businesses have been paid £68.7m. This comes on top of the £160m issued in BPS advance payments since 14 October.

Final round of BPS payments

The Basic Payment Scheme, which has been the backbone of farm support in Wales for a decade, provides direct income support to help farmers plan and manage their businesses. BPS 2025 marks the last year in which full BPS payments will be made before the scheme begins to be phased out.

The Cabinet Secretary said officials would “continue to process the outstanding BPS 2025 claims as soon as possible,” adding that all but the most complex cases should be completed by 30 June 2026.

Payments issued today represent the main balance due to farmers following earlier advances, giving many businesses the cash flow they need during the quieter winter period—traditionally a challenging time in the agricultural calendar.

Shift to Sustainable Farming Scheme in 2026

From 1 January 2026, the Welsh Government will begin rolling out the Sustainable Farming Scheme, a major reform to how agricultural support is delivered. The SFS will reward farmers for environmental outcomes such as habitat management, carbon reduction and biodiversity improvements, alongside continued food production.

The government has argued that the new scheme is essential to meeting Wales’ climate and nature targets while ensuring long-term resilience in the sector. However, the transition has been closely watched by farming unions, who have raised concerns about the administrative burden, income stability, and the speed at which BPS is being phased out.

Mr Irranca-Davies reaffirmed the government’s stance, saying: “This government is steadfastly committed to supporting Welsh farmers to sustainably produce quality food. This is demonstrated today in our payment of the BPS 2025 balance payments and will continue throughout the transition period.”

Sector reaction

Farming unions are expected to scrutinise the detail of today’s announcement, particularly around remaining unpaid cases. Last year, late payments led to frustration in parts of the sector, with unions calling for greater certainty as the industry faces rising input costs, supply chain pressures and continued market volatility.

The move to the SFS remains one of the most significant agricultural policy changes in Wales since devolution. Ministers insist the shift is designed to support both food production and environmental stewardship, while critics warn the transition must not undermine farm viability—especially for family-run livestock farms that dominate rural areas such as Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire.

What happens next

Farmers still awaiting their BPS 2025 balance will continue to be processed “as soon as possible”, the Welsh Government said. Officials will also publish updated guidance on the Sustainable Farming Scheme ahead of its launch.

The coming year will therefore become a pivotal moment for Welsh agriculture, as the long-standing BPS framework—which provided over £200m annually to Welsh farmers—makes way for a new results-based model that will shape the industry for decades to come.

News

Improved train timetable launches across Wales

Published

6 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Extra services, later trains and boosted Sunday routes as £800m rail investment takes effect

An improved train timetable has come into force across Wales today (Sunday, 14 December), with Transport for Wales (TfW) introducing more frequent services, stronger connections and additional late-night trains on key routes.

The winter timetable update brings one of the most substantial uplifts in recent years on the Wales and Borders network, forming part of the Welsh Government’s ongoing £800 million investment in brand-new rolling stock and reliability improvements.

More trains and later journeys

Among the upgrades, passengers will see:

A new hourly additional service between Chester and Wrexham, effectively doubling the frequency on one of the region’s busiest commuter corridors.
An extra train in each direction every day on the Heart of Wales line between Swansea and Shrewsbury.
Three later last trains from Cardiff to Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil, supporting shift workers and the night-time economy.
A new hourly Sunday service on the Coryton line in Cardiff.

Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates, said improved connectivity was “absolutely vital” for economic growth and passenger confidence.

“These changes will make a real difference to customers, who will benefit from more services and greater connectivity,” he said. “This has been made possible by our £800m investment in brand-new trains for the Wales and Borders network.

“We will see the doubling of trains between Wrexham and Chester and a later service from the capital to valley communities. In South Wales, people will continue to benefit from simpler, fairer fares through TfW’s Pay As You Go service, and its forthcoming introduction in North Wales will help even more passengers access easy, transparent pricing.”

Full details of the updated timetable are available at: tfw.wales/service-status/timetables

News

Wrecked guard boat still under watch off north Pembrokeshire coast

Published

7 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Tidal changes monitored after dramatic early-morning rescue

A GUARD VESSEL that ran aground off the north Pembrokeshire coast in the early hours of Thursday morning (Dec 11) remains under close observation as tides continue to shift.

The Resolute, a 24-metre guard boat understood to be working for an offshore wind project off the Irish coast, had been sheltering in worsening weather when she was pushed onto rocks near Aber Hywel, Dinas, shortly after 3:25am.

Four crew members were onboard when the vessel grounded in rough seas and a strong southerly wind.

Major rescue effort launched

The crew issued an emergency alert, prompting a full multi-agency response.
A coastguard rescue helicopter, both Fishguard RNLI lifeboats, and coastguard teams from Fishguard and St Davids were sent to the scene.

Turbulent air made a winch rescue impossible and Fishguard’s all-weather lifeboat was unable to get close due to cliffs and submerged hazards. The inshore lifeboat was instead deployed to attempt a transfer in extremely challenging conditions.

During the evacuation, the third crew member descending to the vessel’s life raft slipped, fell into the water and was swept away. Speaking afterwards, RNLI crew member Cedwyn Rogers said the team immediately switched into “hyper-focused” mode as training took over.

Despite the casualty drifting, helm Warren Bean — a volunteer with more than 30 years’ RNLI experience — manoeuvred the lifeboat alongside, allowing crew to haul the man to safety. The remaining crew member was then retrieved, and all four were taken aboard the all-weather lifeboat and brought ashore to Fishguard.

All rescue units were later stood down.

Vessel still stranded and taking on water

The Herald understands that the Resolute remained aground on the rocks yesterday and was taking on water. The crew were later assisted back onboard by a local fisherman to assess damage on behalf of the vessel’s operators.

Management representatives from Ireland were due to arrive to draw up a recovery plan, including arrangements to remove fuel to prevent any potential environmental impact.

Further inspections have been taking place today as the team evaluates the next steps.

Coastguard statement

A spokesperson for HM Coastguard said: “At 3.28am on Thursday morning, HM Coastguard was made aware of a vessel with four persons onboard aground on rocks at Fishguard, Pembrokeshire. RNLI lifeboats and coastguard rescue teams from Fishguard and St Davids were sent to the scene. The four people aboard were rescued by lifeboat, and the helicopter was stood down. The vessel, which is still aground, is being monitored as tidal conditions change.”