Labour avoid leader talk at first meeting since vote

Vaughan Gething lost a vote of no confidence on Wednesday

The first meeting of the Labour group of Senedd members since the vote on Vaughan Gething's leadership did not discuss Wednesday's events, BBC Wales has been told.

Mr Gething lost a vote of no confidence after two of his backbenchers were off sick and did not take part.

A source told BBC Wales Friday morning's meeting, said to have focused on Labour's manifesto, was "surreal".

Another - a supporter of Mr Gething - said that the only vote discussed "was the one on 4 July".

They said there was lots of focus at the meeting "on the general election now as Labour members know our agenda rests on getting rid of the Tories".

The source said that the first minister was "defiant".

But a separate Labour party source described the meeting to Newyddion S4C as demonstrating "Welsh Labour's parallel universe".

Another source said it was "pathetic".

It is understood the the Labour members discussed the party's manifesto ahead of a clause 5 meeting Mr Gething was attending.

A source aware of what took place at the meeting said Mr Gething thanked the group for their support on Wednesday, but said there was no further discussion of the vote.

"Most people were just sitting there thinking this is surreal," the source said.

The source described the events of last week as "the most depressing week for Welsh Labour since February 2000", referring to the events that brought down Alun Michael.

They added that the current situation as "not sustainable", and said the group had not come to terms with what had happened.

The meeting came after Jenny Rathbone, MS for Cardiff Central, said it was "uncertain" Mr Gething could carry on after the vote.

Welsh Labour has been riven with internal rows since Mr Gething accepted £200,000 from a controversial waste company, owned by a man previously convicted of environmental offences, for his leadership campaign.

Mr Gething has said throughout that he has followed all the rules that cover donations.

The first minister lost the confidence on Wednesday 29 votes to 27, after the opposition joined together to defeat the first minister.

He has refused to resign and has said the vote is not binding.

Lee Waters, a former transport minister who has publicly criticised the donations, and Hannah Blythyn, a former minister who was sacked by Mr Gething for allegedly leaking, were both off sick on Wednesday.

Chair of the Labour group Vikki Howells said on Thursday that both would have backed the first minister had they been present.

Additional reporting by Gwyn Loader, Newyddion S4C