Turmoil for Labour in Wales after Gething resigns as first minister

Move to step down follows months of infighting and scandal

- Peter Walker, Jamie Grierson

Labour is facing weeks of political deadlock in Wales after Vaughan Gething quit as first minister following a turbulent four months of infighting and scandal, with his replacement not expected to be elected until the autumn.

Gething has faced a series of controversies, including over donations and claims he sought to delete sensitive messages, since he took over from Mark Drakeford as first minister and the leader of Welsh Labour in March.

He refused to quit when he lost a vote of confidence in the Senedd in June, but was finally forced out yesterday after four ministers resigned from his government.

In a letter, Jeremy Miles, the economy secretary, who lost narrowly to Gething in the race to succeed Drakeford, urged the first minister to step down for the sake of the party and for Welsh devolution, saying: "We cannot continue like this."

Gething, who became the first black leader of a European nation when he took on the role, hit out at critics he said had made claims against him that were "pernicious, politically motivated and patently untrue".

"In 11 years as a minister, I have never ever made a decision for personal gain," he said. "I have never ever misused or abused my ministerial responsibilities. My integrity matters. I have not compromised it.

I regret that the burden of proof is no longer an important commodity in the language of our politics. I do hope that can change."

The party will now be seeking its third leader this year. While some Welsh Labour figures hope a unity candidate could emerge, Gething's bitter reaction at being forced out could herald a difficult battle to come.