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Politics

No confidence in First Minister – what happens next?

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A TEARFUL and defiant Vaughan Gething refused to stand down as Wales’ First Minister despite losing a vote of no confidence in the Senedd.

He lost the non-binding vote 29-27, with Conservative, Plaid Cymru and Liberal Democrat MSs all expressing no confidence in his leadership.

Mr Gething, who said he was confident of winning the vote during FMQs questions only a day earlier, rejected opposition calls to step down as First Minister.

He told the Senedd: “I regret the motion because it is designed to question my integrity.

“Like so many of you in this chamber, I have dedicated my adult life to public service and to Wales. Even in the midst of an election, it hurts deeply when my intentions are questioned.”

Mr Gething was backed by 27 of Labour’s 30-strong Senedd group, the majority of which supported his rival Jeremy Miles in the race to succeed Mark Drakeford in March.

Two Labour Senedd members – Hannah Blythyn and Lee Waters, who both left the Welsh Government following Mr Gething’s election – were off sick and unable to vote.

Unlike Jack Sargeant, who just became a father, they were unable to vote by proxy and opposition parties refused to agree to a pairing system to account for the two absences.

Mr Gething’s leadership has been beset by concerns surrounding a £200,000 donation from Dauson Environmental Group, which is owned by David Neal, a convicted polluter.

He has stressed all along that he has followed the rules for political donations but Mr Waters has urged the First Minister to “do the right thing” by returning the money.

The embattled First Minister has also faced criticism for telling ministers he was deleting texts, which were captured by transparency laws, from a group chat during the pandemic.

He sacked Ms Blythyn, accusing the former minister of leaking the messages to Nation.Cymru – claims that she denies – but refused to publish any evidence.

This week, an S4C Newyddion investigation found the First Minister tried to block the release of details of his lobbying on behalf of a company owned by Mr Neal.

The businessman broke his silence, telling WalesOnline he has been used as a “stick to beat Vaughan with” and criticising a “lack of balance and context” in press coverage.

And Mr Gething turned down the offer of a £200,000 loan, thought to be made by Labour backbencher Jenny Rathbone, to repay the campaign donation.

Meanwhile, an ITV Wales/YouGov poll found that 57% of people thought the First Minister was performing poorly with only 15% saying he was doing well.

Andrew RT Davies, the leader of the Conservative group, which tabled the motion of no confidence, questioned the First Minister’s judgement over the record-breaking donation.

Opening the opposition debate on June 5, Mr Davies pointed out that the government-owned Development Bank made a £400,000 loan to a Dauson Environmental Group company.

He said: “It’s about judgement, transparency and honesty, it’s not general electioneering, it’s not a vote of confidence in the government or Labour party. It’s about what the First Minister has undertaken and the calls he has made.”

He raised concerns about BBC Wales’ revelations that the company that bankrolled the First Minister’s leadership war chest was linked to a criminal investigation at the time.

Describing the vote as a grave day in the history of the Senedd, Rhun ap Iorwerth said the First Minister has lost the confidence of the people of Wales.

The Plaid Cymru leader, who pulled his party out of the co-operation agreement with the Welsh Government, said Mr Gething does not have the required skill set to be First Minister.

Accusing Mr Gething of undermining his office, Mr ap Iorwerth suggested the First Minister had not acted in line with the seven Nolan principles of public life.

Vikki Howells, a fellow Labour backbencher, who chairs the party’s Senedd group, described the no-confidence vote as a “cynical gimmick” which she described as “politics at its worst”.

The Cynon Valley MS said: “I believe it would be a travesty if this non-binding Tory gimmick of a motion was to be used to subvert democracy.”

Joyce Watson, whose father was involved in D-Day, criticised the “disrespectful” Tories for preventing Mr Gething attending an event to mark 80 years since the Normandy landings.

“You have picked this day, you could have picked any other day,” said the Labour MS. “ You have no end of opportunities but you chose this day to pull this stunt. I’ll never forgive you.”

Plaid Cymru’s Heledd Fychan accused the First Minister of bending the rules, saying: “Winning was everything and nothing else mattered – it’s not right.”

Hefin David, who supported Mr Gething’s leadership campaign, accused a small section of the media of relentlessly pursuing the First Minister.

Dr David, who represents Caerphilly, warned the Senedd could be heading towards an early election, saying: “And for what? To bring down a leader who we never gave a chance to.”

The Conservatives’ Paul Davies raised concerns about the stench from a landfill site, in his Preseli Pembrokeshire constituency, which is owned by Dauson Environmental Group.

Mr Davies stood down as Conservative group leader in 2021 after he was seen socialising with other politicians in the Senedd during an alcohol ban due to the pandemic.

“I did the right thing, now the First Minister must also do the right thing,” he said.

Jane Dodds, the Lib Dems’ leader in Wales, raised concerns about trust in politics hitting an all-time low, reiterating her calls for the First Minister to return the donation.

Natasha Asghar, the Tory MS for South East Wales, criticised “insulting” suggestions the First Minister is receiving more scrutiny due to his skin colour.

Mike Hedges, the Labour MS for Swansea East, said he would welcome an early election if the Senedd voted to remove the First Minister.

“Let the voters decide – a number of you over there may not be coming back,” he said, gesturing towards the Conservative benches.

Adam Price, the former Plaid Cymru leader, accused the Welsh Government of systematically removing all the more radical elements of its policy programme.

He said: “This is a government that in a few months has become shallow and rudderless, shorn of any sense of greater purpose other than political survival of the First Minister.”

Mr Price told members Alun Michael set a precedent by resigning as First Secretary in 2000 due to a vote of no confidence as he urged Mr Gething to do likewise.

Mr Gething, who has been in post for less than three months, stressed: “I have never, ever made a decision in more than a decade as a minister for personal or financial gain. Never.”

The first black leader of any European country said: “Like me, so many people of colour have been traduced and vilified merely for raising concerns about how some of these debates have been handled. Our lived experience should matter and be respected.”

Closing his contribution to the debate, he said: “I will continue to put Wales first – first in thought, deed and ambition – as I serve and lead my country.”

The opposition vote was non-binding because it was not a formal no-confidence motion under the Senedd standing orders and the laws that govern Wales.

If the Senedd was to pass such a vote, which would need to be tabled by at least six members, the first minister would be forced to resign when a successor is appointed.

News

Unison calls for fair funding as NI hike leaves Wales short by £65m

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WALES could be left facing a funding shortfall of up to £65 million due to the way its budget is calculated, trade union UNISON warned on Thursday (Apr 3).

The union says a rise in employer national insurance contributions, set to take effect on Sunday (Apr 6), will see the UK Treasury cover the additional costs for public services in England—but not in Wales.

UNISON is calling on the UK government to “play fair” by reviewing how money is allocated to the devolved nations. It says the Barnett formula—used to distribute public funds—fails to account for the larger size of the public sector in Wales, leaving essential services exposed.

Jess Turner, UNISON Cymru/Wales secretary, said: “Our plea to the UK government is to treat Wales fairly. If public services in England are to be fully covered for the national insurance increase, then those in Wales must be too. That additional cash can only come from Westminster.

“The Treasury is effectively penalising Wales because of the comparatively larger size of its public service workforce.”

According to the union, the shortfall will place even more strain on services already under pressure after years of underfunding.

“Fifteen years of squeezing budgets has placed public services under intolerable strain,” said Ms Turner. “A shortfall of tens of millions of pounds will harm the quality of vital services and heap further pressure on the Welsh workforce, who are already being asked to do more with less.

“More broadly, it’s clear the way Wales is funded within the UK needs to be reviewed.”

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Health

Welsh public want NHS, cost of living and infrastructure prioritised

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Report highlights top concerns and calls for long-term vision

THE WELSH public want the government to prioritise improvements to the NHS, tackle the cost of living, and invest in infrastructure, according to Deloitte’s latest State of the State report.

The 2025 report, published in partnership with the independent think tank Reform, reflects the views of both public sector leaders and the people who use public services.

For the third consecutive year, the state of the NHS and the cost of living were the most pressing concerns for people in Wales, with both issues cited by 75% of those surveyed. Social care for the elderly and vulnerable adults followed, mentioned by 48%.

Jobs and the economy (47%) and affordable housing (43%) were also high on the public’s list of priorities. One of the most notable increases was in concern about infrastructure—roads, railways and broadband—with 42% calling for improvements, a rise of six percentage points on last year.

When asked about the biggest drivers of future growth, respondents in Wales chose improving the nation’s health (45%), boosting education and skills (44%), and increased investment in infrastructure (39%).

Despite these priorities, most people were pessimistic about the outlook. Some 75% expected the NHS to stay the same or get worse, while 74% said the same about infrastructure.

Council chief executives interviewed for the report stressed that government infrastructure spending would be key to future growth. Other public sector leaders highlighted progress in Welsh transport, crediting a clear vision and strong partnership working for recent successes.

The biggest challenge facing public services, according to respondents, was a lack of funding, with 66% citing it as a concern. A further 55% expressed fears about a loss of trust in public services.

While trust in the Welsh Government remains higher than in the UK, Scottish or Northern Irish governments, the public remain sceptical about delivery. Some 63% said they had low trust in its ability to deliver major projects on time and on budget, while 61% doubted it could deliver outcomes people want.

On the question of taxation, Welsh public opinion was divided. Some 31% supported higher taxes and public spending, while 37% preferred lower taxes and reduced spending. Nearly half (47%) said they expected higher taxes and spending regardless of their preference.

Deloitte’s interviews with senior public sector leaders revealed ambitious long-term goals, including frictionless digital interaction with government services, improved collaboration between agencies, place-based planning for integrated transport and healthcare, and a shift toward long-term, commercially aware decision-making.

Dave Tansley, Deloitte’s senior partner for the South West and Wales, said: “The State of the State 2025 report shows the Welsh public remain concerned about the cost of living and the NHS. But our survey also found heightened interest in infrastructure, more so than in other parts of the UK, suggesting the public recognises the importance of connectivity to economic growth.”

He added: “Infrastructure investment supports jobs, housing, roads and rail—but more importantly, it provides the platform for long-term economic resilience. With public finances under pressure and the 2026 Senedd election approaching, the next administration faces difficult choices and the chance to deliver transformational change.”

Ian Howse, Deloitte’s senior partner for Wales, said: “Public sector leaders want bold reform—services that are joined-up, citizen-focused and tech-driven. While the Welsh Government is addressing immediate pressures, our research points to the need for a long-term vision. Leaders report growing urgency to deliver ahead of the next election, especially on economic growth, which is a positive sign for the future.”

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News

Funding boost to tackle child poverty across Wales

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FAMILIES living on lower incomes in Wales are set to benefit from a new £1.5 million Welsh Government fund aimed at tackling child poverty.

Applications have opened for the Child Poverty Innovation and Supporting Communities Grant, which supports public and third sector organisations to work together to improve the lives of children in low-income households.

Previous rounds of funding have already helped reshape communities. In Rhondda Cynon Taf, the Trivallis housing association’s ‘Rise Strong’ project has seen families lead the way in designing local services based on their own needs.

In Cae Fardre, residents with no previous community space have created a thriving hub where families now take part in budget cooking classes and social activities. In Penrhys, the grant has supported the revival of the Penrhys Carnival, with families learning media, art, and costume-making skills and staging a fashion show using recycled materials.

Jen O’Hara Jakeway, Head of Community Involvement at Trivallis, said: “The funding has helped families come together to share ideas and find ways to build on their strengths to make a difference in their own communities. Being alongside them as they take the lead and drive that change has taught us so much about the potential in our communities.”

The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Jane Hutt, said: “This funding puts resources directly where they make the greatest difference to families on lower incomes. We’re determined to do all we can to prevent people from going into poverty and help those who need support the most.

“Since 2022, we’ve invested nearly £5 billion in schemes which help people access their entitlements and help put money back into people’s pockets by boosting incomes and strengthening financial support. Our Child Poverty Strategy sets out actions to tackle poverty, including delivering more community-based opportunities for play, sports, youth activities and access to arts and culture for children and families.”

Organisations can apply for up to £25,000 for community projects or up to £125,000 for regional projects involving more than one local authority.

Applications close on Sunday (Apr 13). For details, visit: gov.wales.

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