A new page in the history of Wales, Vaughan Gething is officially Wales’ First Minister. The MS for Cardiff South and Penarth will be written into the history books as the fifth First Minister of Wales, as well as the first black leader of a European country.
Gething received the backing of 27 Senedd Members - 26 Labour and one Liberal Democrat. Meanwhile the Leader of the Opposition, Andrew RT Davies secured 13 votes and Rhun ap Iorwerth of Plaid Cymru, 11.
Addressing the Senedd, Gething reflected on the historic moment: "We have of course, today voted to ensure that Wales becomes the first nation anywhere in Europe to be led by a black person”.
"A matter of pride for a modern Wales but also a daunting responsibility for me – one that I will never take lightly and today, we can also expect the depressingly familiar pattern to emerge, abuse on social media, racist tropes disguised with polite language.
Vaughan Gething became the first black person to lead a European nation
PA/Flickr
"People questioning my motives and my nationality. Whilst others question why I’m ‘playing the race card’. To those people I say – it is very easy not to care about identity when your own has never once been questioned or held you back."
After securing most votes from the MS, Gething’s name was recommend to King Charles for appointment.
On approval Gething took an oath to the King before senior judge, Mr Justice Griffiths.
Vaughan Gething’s winning manifesto focused on making the NHS the budget priority. Expanding childcare was also one of the pledges the First Minister pledged, as the Welsh Government is under pressure to bring childcare policy into line with the UK Government’.
Gething also pledged to tackle the existing 2,500 coal tips across Wales. 58 years after the Aberfan disaster where 116 children and 28 adults died - some coal tips are still yet to be removed and still pose a threat to thousands of people across Wales.
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Vaughan Gething with Justice Martin Griffiths, presiding judge of Wales, at his affirmation signing
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“No one should have to live with the entirely preventable fear and anxiety that these tips cause for families in coalfield communities. This issue should be tackled as a matter of urgency.”
This has been a bruising campaign for the First Minister. Questions have raised over a £200,000 donation made by a twice convicted criminal, where many of his colleagues have publicly questioned these donations.
Now in office, Gething turns his attention to appointing his cabinet. But it will not be easy, the First Minister has a heavy in tray.
Alongside a cost-of-living crisis, Wales’ NHS is dealing with record waiting lists. In March 2023, there were more than 734,000 people waiting for NHS treatment in Wales. Gething who was Health Minister from 2016 – 2021 will face tough questions on the state of the NHS in Wales now that he is First Minister.
In Education, Wales is behind the other three nations in PISA assessments. In the first assessments since Covid, scores were the lowest of all UK nations and the gap with results is widening.
Gething inherits controversial policies from outgoing Mark Drakeford. This week the full enforcement of the controversial 20mph policy will roll out across Wales, as the petition against the policy nears 470,000 signatures.
And just last month the Senedd saw its biggest protest, as thousands of farmers met on the steps of the Senedd over proposed changes to environmental policy.
Meanwhile as an election date creeps ever closer, the First Minister will be front and centre of Labour in Wales as the national party hopes Sir Keir Starmer gets the keys to Number 10.
The Conservatives have never had a majority in Wales but polling looks bleak for the Tories as the party faces wipeout in the country. Labour is hoping to retrieve many of the former red wall seats in north and south Wales to deepen their dominance in Wales.
Speaking yesterday, Gething said was looking forward to “standing up for Wales and for devolution, in the weeks and months to come…I relish the opportunity to cooperate for Wales with a new UK government that invests in partnership and in Wales' future.”
