Vaughan Gething has sacked his minister for social partnership after a message was leaked to the media claiming he was "deleting messages".
The Welsh First Minister aid he had “no alternative” but to ask Hannah Blythyn, MS for Delyn, to leave his government.
But Blythyn insisted she was “clear and have been clear that I did not, nor have I ever leaked anything” and was “deeply shocked” at her dismissal.
The First Minister’s decision follows a report on the Nation.Cymru news website which featured a message posted to a ministerial group chat in August 2020 by Gething, stating that he was “deleting the messages in this group”.
Vaughan Gething has sacked his minister for social partnership after a message was leaked to the media claiming he was "deleting messages"
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Gething previously told the UK Covid-19 Inquiry that lost WhatsApp messages were not deleted by him, but by the Welsh Parliament’s IT team during a security rebuild.
He told plenary last week that the leaked message was from a section of an iMessage group chat with other Labour ministers and related to internal discussions within the Senedd Labour group.
Gething denied the message contradicted the evidence he had given to the inquiry, adding that the message did not relate to pandemic decision making but “comments that colleagues make to and about each other”.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Gething said: "Having reviewed the evidence available to me regarding the recent disclosure of communication to the media, I have regrettably reached the conclusion I have no alternative but to ask Hannah Blythyn to leave the government.
"I’d like to record my gratitude for the work the member has done to date, including her leadership through the fire and rescue services review, outstanding work leading the LGBTQ+ Action Plan For Wales and invaluable work on the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act.
"It is of vital importance we are able to maintain confidence amongst government colleagues so that we work as one to focus on improving the lives of the people in Wales.
Gething denied the message contradicted the evidence he had given to the inquiry
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"Given Hannah’s talents and experience, I have been clear there is a route back for her to take up a government position again in future.
"The government has offered ongoing support to the member."
Responding, Blythyn said: “I am deeply shocked and saddened by what has happened today.
"I am clear and have been clear that I did not, nor have I ever leaked anything. Integrity is all in politics and I retain mine.
"For a kid from Connah’s Quay, it is an immense privilege to serve the community that shaped me, let alone to have served in my country’s government. I will say no more at present."
The leaked message, sent on August 17 2020, saw Gething say: "I’m deleting the messages in this group.
“They can be captured in an FOI (Freedom of Information request) and I think we are in the right place on the choice being made.”
During plenary, Gething said he had set out in detail “honestly and fully” to the Covid inquiry how messages had been retained and stored.
He described the message as "an appeal for people to consider what they have to say" and how they talked about each other, rather than about information.
He said: "I reject completely the suggestion that I have not been honest with the Covid-19 inquiry.
"I have already asked the full unredacted screenshot is shared with the Covid-19 inquiry.
"If they want to question me about it, I will have no difficulty at all and appearing before them and having the conversation."
A spokesman for the UK Covid-19 Inquiry previously confirmed it had been made aware of the message and are now considering whether Gething would be required to provide further information.
