Labour frontbencher fails to express full confidence in Vaughan Gething

A Labour frontbencher has declined to give her full backing to Vaughan Gething after he lost a “no confidence” vote in the Senedd.

The First Minister of Wales, who is a close ally of Sir Keir Starmer, was subject to the vote on Wednesday following a series of scandals during his short stint in office.

Liz Kendall, the shadow work and pensions secretary, defended Mr Gething as a “fantastic campaigner” but did not directly express her full confidence in him.

Speaking to broadcasters in Thurrock, Essex, she said: “I think Vaughan is a passionate champion for tackling poverty and inequality and for achieving social justice.

“He has a clear plan to tackle the cost of living, drive down NHS waiting lists and campaign for the UK Labour government that people in Wales desperately needed.”

Pressed on whether she has full confidence in Mr Gething, she repeated that he is a “fantastic campaigner and champion”.

The defeat came after two Labour members claimed they were too unwell to come to the vote, which was called by the Tories.

The result is itself non-binding and Mr Gething is not under any legal obligation to step down.

The Welsh Conservatives tabled the motion, following the collapse of the cooperation deal between Labour and Plaid Cymru and a series of rows after Mr Gething accepted a donation from a company controlled by a businessman who has been convicted for environmental offences.

He has also refused to explain why he sacked Hannah Blythyn, the Senedd member he accused of leaking WhatsApp messages to the media.

It comes after Sir Keir declined to say ahead of the vote whether Mr Gething should resign if he lost it.

He told journalists on Thursday: “What Vaughan Gething wants to do is to deliver for the people of Wales. And I think people in Wales want him to deliver for them. So that’s where his priority is. And that’s where my priority is.”

When pressed on whether Mr Gething should resign, Sir Keir said: “Look, it’s gameplaying by politicians in Wales. He wants to get on to deliver for the people of Wales, he’s right about that.”

Stephen Kinnock, the shadow immigration minister who is standing in Aberafan Maesteg, insisted that the Labour leader “absolutely” has confidence in Mr Gething.

He said that the Welsh leader had “done nothing wrong” and “absolutely must carry on”.