Vaughan Gething is poised to become the next First Minister of Wales, having secured a slim majority of 51.7% in the Welsh Labour leadership contest.
Set to be the first black leader of Wales, Gething edged out competitor Jeremy Miles, who garnered 48.3% of the vote.
Congratulations came from both Sir Keir Starmer, the UK Labour leader, and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
However, Plaid Cymru voiced significant reservations regarding contributions from a contentious Cardiff waste firm.
Gething’s bid was overshadowed by reports of a £200,000 donation from Dauson Environmental Group, whose owner has faced legal action for environmental violations twice.
Julie James, a Welsh government minister and supporter of Miles, has advocated for an overhaul of the leadership campaign process.
Mark Drakeford is slated to step down on Tuesday following his last session of First Minister’s Questions in the Senedd, with Gething expected to succeed him the subsequent day.
Gething, born to a Welsh father and Zambian mother, followed a path in law before his 2011 election to the Welsh Parliament.
The Member of the Senedd for Cardiff South and Penarth, who currently serves as the economy minister in Drakeford’s cabinet, marked his 50th birthday this past Friday.
Starmer praised Gething, stating he “is set to steer a hopeful, forward-looking Welsh Labour government against the backdrop of a weary, unsuccessful Conservative government at Westminster.”
Prime Minister Sunak remarked on X, previously known as Twitter, that Gething’s victory represents “an opportunity for a fresh Welsh government to prioritize the concerns of the Welsh populace.”
Who is Vaughan Gething?
Vaughan Gething has a diverse and accomplished background. Born on March 15, 1974, in Lusaka, Zambia, to a Welsh father and a Zambian mother, he moved to Monmouthshire, Wales, at the age of two. He grew up in Dorset, England, after his family faced racial discrimination in Monmouthshire.
Gething pursued his education in Law at Aberystwyth University, where he became the president of the Students’ Union and the first black president of the National Union of Students Wales. He later completed his legal training at Cardiff University.
Professionally, Gething worked as a solicitor specializing in employment law before transitioning into politics. He was elected to the Welsh Parliament as the Member of the Senedd for Cardiff South and Penarth in 2011. Prior to becoming the First Minister, he served as the Minister for Health and Social Services from 2016 to 2021, and as the Minister for the Economy since 2021.
Gething is recognized for his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic as the health minister and for his contributions to Welsh politics. His election as the First Minister is historic, as he is the first mixed-race person to hold this position in Wales and the first mixed-race leader of any country in Europe.
