Vaughan Gething

Humphrey Vaughan ap David Gething (born 15 March 1974) is a Welsh Labour Co-op politician who served as First Minister of Wales from March to August 2024, and served as leader of Welsh Labour from March to July 2024, making him the first black leader of any European country. He has been the Member of the Senedd (MS) for Cardiff South and Penarth since 2011. Gething was born in Zambia to a Welsh father and Zambian mother. He moved to Britain as a child and studied law at Aberystwyth University and Cardiff Law School, at Cardiff University. He trained as a solicitor with Cardiff-based firm Thompsons and subsequently specialised in employment law. Gething joined the Labour Party when he was 17 and contested Mid and West Wales for Labour in the inaugural elections to the National Assembly for Wales in 1999. He later represented Butetown electoral ward on Cardiff Council from 2004 to 2008. Gething was elected to the Senedd at the 2011 National Assembly for Wales election, representing the Cardiff South and Penarth constituency. He was re-elected at the 2016 election and was subsequently appointed Minister for Health and Social Services in Mark Drakeford's government. His tenure notably included the COVID-19 pandemic in Wales. Gething subsequently served as Minister for the Economy from 2021 to 2024. Following Drakeford's resignation, he defeated Jeremy Miles in the Welsh Labour leadership election to become his successor in the party leadership and as First Minister of Wales. Gething was sworn in as First Minister in March 2024. Less than two months into his term of office, allegations were raised that he had perjured himself at a COVID-19 inquiry by falsely denying that he had deleted text messages from his phone. In response, Plaid Cymru withdrew from its co-operation agreement with Labour and supported a non-confidence motion introduced by the Welsh Conservatives, which passed by two votes. Gething initially refused to resign, sparking a government crisis, but following a mass resignation of cabinet ministers in July 2024 announced his impending resignation. Eluned Morgan was elected unopposed as his successor and he formally resigned as First Minister in August 2024, making him the shortest-serving holder of the office.