After only less than four months in the job, Vaughan Gething has stepped down as First Minister after a tumultuous time, surrounded by allegations of dodgy deals, unfair sackings and a lack of leadership.
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00:00I have this morning taken the difficult decision to begin the process of stepping down as the
00:07leader of Welsh Labour and as a result, First Minister of Wales. Having been elected as
00:13the leader of my party in March this year, I had hoped that over the summer, a period
00:19of reflection, rebuilding and renewal could take place under my leadership. I recognise
00:27now that that is not possible.
00:29In an emotional and defiant speech, Vaughan Gething asserted his innocence wrongdoing
00:34in the wake of his donations, which were the first steps to where we've come to today.
00:39Parties have all but accused Gething of dodgy dealing with the £200,000 donation, which
00:43led to an uncomfortable aura surrounding the money.
00:47A growing assertion that some kind of wrongdoing has taken place has been pernicious, politically
00:52motivated and patently untrue.
00:57I have worked hard, followed the rules and done really difficult and demanding jobs for
01:03my country. In 11 years as a minister, I have never, ever made a decision for personal gain.
01:12I have never, ever misused or abused my ministerial position.
01:20My integrity matters. I have not compromised it.
01:26Vaughan Gething, being the first black government leader in Europe, felt that that had something
01:30to do with his untimely ousting, and shared in the feelings of black people around Wales
01:34who he said might feel frightened by how he was treated.
01:39There will and there must be, in a future, a government that looks like the country it
01:45serves. A government for all of us, to make Wales a better place with and for all of us.