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Vaughan Gething has dramatically resigned as the first minister of Wales following mounting pressure to stand down after four of his ministers quit his government in protest.
In a statement announcing his resignation, Gething said he recognised that “rebuilding and renewal” was “not possible” under his leadership, but said allegations of wrongdoing on his part were “pernicious, politically motivated and patently untrue”.
In the wake of Vaughan Gething’s resignation, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth has called for a snap Senedd election, claiming “people of Wales have lost faith in the first minister”.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump’s running mate JD Vance sparked crossparty outrage among politicians after describing the UK as an “Islamist country” with nuclear weapons during a speech at a right-wing conference.
Angela Rayner claimed the would-be deputy US president was wrong about the UK but that she “looked forward” to meeting him and Mr Trump if he gets elected in November.
The shocking comments also caused anger among prominent Muslim political figures, with baroness Sayeeda Warsi accusing JD Vance of “Islamophobia” and the Muslim Council of Britain branding the remarks “divisive and dangerous”.
Woman denies assault after milkshake thrown over Nigel Farage
A young woman accused of throwing a milkshake over Nigel Farage has denied assault by beating and criminal damage.
The Reform UK leader was doused with what appeared to be a McDonald’s banana drink as he left the Moon and Starfish Wetherspoon pub in Clacton-on-Sea in Essex on June 4.
Mr Farage, who is now Clacton MP, had earlier addressed supporters at a rally in the seaside town during the general election campaign.
The veteran Eurosceptic, 60, was left with the yellow liquid splattered across his dark blue suit.
Victoria Thomas Bowen, 25, of St Osyth Road in the seaside town, pleaded not guilty to both charges at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
Prosecutors say £30 of criminal damage was caused to a jacket belonging to James Woolfenden.
Caroline Liggins, partner at Hodge Jones & Allen, the law firm representing Bowen, said: “My client strongly protests her innocence and looks forward to fighting these unjust charges in court.”
Bowen was released on unconditional bail to appear before the same court for trial on October 21.
TUV leader Allister to support Reform UK on issues the parties agree on
TUV leader Jim Allister is to support Reform UK in Parliament on the issues that formed the basis of the two parties’ General Election alliance.
Mr Allister said that under the arrangement, he will continue to be a TUV MP in the House of Commons and will be entitled to the speaking rights afforded to party leaders.
The newly-elected North Antrim MP outlined his intention to only follow the Reform whip on certain specific issues as he formally unveiled party colleague Timothy Gaston as his co-opted successor as an Assembly member at Stormont.
The TUV and Reform UK signed a memorandum of understanding in March that saw them campaigning on a joint platform in the General Election.
The pact outlined a number of agreed positions, including on taxation, immigration policy and the removal of post-Brexit economic barriers between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.
Mr Allister told reporters at Stormont on Tuesday that he would support Reform UK on those issues in the Commons.
“In terms of the parliamentary situation, the answer going forward is found in the memorandum of understanding that my party entered with Reform at our party conference back in March,” he said.
Welsh Tory leader claims Gething declined to shake his hand
Leader of the Welsh Tories Andrew RT Davies has claimed outgoing Vaughan Gething has refused to shake his hand after he offered the first minister best wishes after his resignation.
Andrew RT Davies told the Senedd during questions to the First Minister this afternoon: “First Minister, in 17 years that I have been in this institution I don’t think you and I have ever shared a lift. This morning, the doors opened and you were standing there.
“I stretched out my hand to shake your hand and wish you all the best for the future. Sadly you declined that hand. I do as I stand here wish you and your family all the very best.”
After Mr Gething refused to address the handshake, Mr RT Davies asked the Labour leader if he believes his party could survive in power until 2026.
Mr Gething said “of course we can”, adding: “I’m proud of my record in all the things I have done before coming here and since coming here in 11 years as being a minister.”
‘Sad day’ for Welsh parliament – Lib Dems
Jane Dodds, leader of the Liberal Democrats in the Senedd, said it was a “sad day” for the Welsh Parliament, following the announcement that Vaughan Gething was to resign as First Minister.
Speaking to the PA news agency she rejected Plaid Cymru’s calls for a snap general election, insisting now was not the time.
“That’s not what I would support,” she said. “There’s no appetite for that, the Labour Party are the lead party here, they have their processes, and we’ll have to see what they are.”
Ms Dodds added that “it was time” for Mr Gething to go.
She said: “It is sad, to be honest, I don’t stand here and speak with any sense of triumphalism or jubilation. We need to see what the next steps are in the process which I will support, it’s up to the Labour group from now on. But it is a sad day, and my concern here is for the First Minister and his family and anybody else that’s been affected.”
Ms Dodds, who voted to affirm Mr Gething as First Minister unlike other opposition groups said it was clear that the controversial donation and the treatment of Ms Blythyn was “concerning”.
Boris Johnson speaks to almost empty room at Republican convention
A picture showed former prime minister Boris Johnson speaking to an almost empty room at the Republican National Convention, the Mirror reports.
He was spotted addressing rows of empty seats in a hotel ballroom in Milwaukee.
Gething insists he told the truth over leaked messages
First Minister Vaughan Gething has insisted that he was telling the truth over the alleged leak of messages and said he was “trying to protect other people”.
Referring to his written statement which related to the sacking of former social partnership minister Hannah Blythyn, Mr Gething said: “It sets out what did happen, it sets out why the evidence is so clear, as I said that I can be pretty clear that there was a photograph of that member’s phone.
“Now everything I’d said before then was about trying to avoid all the events of last week that have rolled on and on and on, I’ve done that in trying to protect other people.
“And I’ve been prepared to take flak and criticism for doing that, and that is exactly what has happened, but I expected at some point there’d be a pause to recognise that what I’d said was actually the truth, and that didn’t happen.”
Mr Gething added: “Other people need to reflect on what they wish to do in the future and how they exercise their own judgments and I hope all members take that seriously.”
Gething allies insists first minister ‘acted with incredible dignity’
Hefin David, one of the First Minister’s staunchest allies on the Labour benches in the Senedd, said Vaughan Gething has “acted with incredible dignity” but now was the time for him to go.
He said: “He has listened to the voices of those who left his government and has decided to stand down. I think he’s done what he thinks is in the best interest of Wales, that’s his choice. Naturally, as a supporter of Vaughan, I’m disappointed.
“What we have to do is unite and deliver for the people of Wales along the lines of the cost of living, the NHS, education, but really importantly Tata Steel. It’s really important that we continue to work on that and I’m confident that Vaughan in his last time as First Minister and whoever takes over will continue to do that.”
He added that Mr Gething standing down was “now in the best interest of Wales so that we can focus on policy”.
Asked if he had a candidate in mind to replace the First Minister he said it was “too early to think about that” and rejected Plaid Cymru’s calls for a snap election.
“It’s very dangerous if you have an election on that basis, I think you would be opening the door to chaos. We don’t want chaos, what we want is to deliver for the people of Wales.”
Home secretary braced for ‘difficult summer ahead’ on small boat crossings
Following a cabinet meeting this morning, Yvette Cooper told fellow ministers that there will be a “difficult summer ahead” on small boat crossings.
More than 1,000 people have crossed the Channel since the Labour government got elected, official figures reported.
A Downing Street readout of today’s Cabinet meeting said: “The Home Secretary said that small boats crossings were at a record high in the first half of the year and indicated a difficult summer ahead.
“Tackling illegal migration was therefore an important part of our European reset, where the government is working with European partners and agencies including Europol to tackle criminal gang networks and work to disrupt supply chains and illegal migration upstream.”
New fears Brexit has ‘drained life out of UK economy’ following IMF report
Opponents of Brexit have warned that the latest figures from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), confirm that leaving the EU “has drained the life out of the British economy”.
But the urgency of the problem appears to have been highlighted in the latest IMF projections.
According to the IMF the UK only grew 0.1 per cent in 2023 and will only grow by 0.7 per cent by the end of this year. While growth is set to double next year, according to the IMF, it will still only grow by 1.5 per cent.
Our political editor David Maddox has the full story:
Vaughan Gething confirms he will remain as first minister until successor is chosen
Mr Gething delivered a statement to the Senedd confirming his intention to resign as Welsh first minister.
During the conclusion speech, Mr Gething said: “There will and there must be in the future a government that looks like the country it serves. A government for all of us to make Wales a better place with, and for, all of us.”
As he finished his short speech, there was applause from members in the chamber.
