Summary

  • Vaughan Gething becomes Wales' fifth first minister and succeeds Mark Drakeford in Wales' top job

  • The Cardiff South and Penarth Senedd member has been nominated as first minister which needs to be formally accepted by the King

  • The 50-year-old former economy minister won the Welsh Labour leadership contest, beating Education Minister Jeremy Miles with 51.7% of the vote

  • In his acceptance speech, Gething says he will be the "first black leader in any European country"

  • There was controversy in Gething's leadership campaign after receiving a £200,000 donation from a company whose owner was convicted of environmental offences

  • As well as our live text coverage, you can also watch events by pressing Play at the top of the page

  1. Thanks for joining us and goodbyepublished at 14:45 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March

    Vaughan GethingImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Vaughan Gething becomes Wales' fifth first minister

    That brings to a close our live coverage as Vaughan Gething is nominated by his fellow Senedd members to be Wales' next first minister.

    Let's recap what's happened today

    • The King officially accepted Mark Drakeford's resignation earlier today
    • After a fairly quick vote, Senedd Members have voted to nominate Gething as the new first minister of Wales
    • In his acceptance speech, Gething said the Senedd voted to ensure Wales "becomes the first nation anywhere in Europe to be led by a black person"
    • Gething said he wanted Wales "to thrive in the sunshine that hope and social justice can offer all of us"
    • Now it's over to the King, who will formally approve Gething before he is sworn in later

    For all updates on Gething being sworn in by the King, please click here.

    Thanks for joining us today.

  2. How will Welsh Labour change under Gething's leadership?published at 14:36 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March

    Chris Mason
    Political editor

    Vaughan Gething and his sonImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Vaughan Gething with his nine-year-old son Isaac after winning the Welsh Labour leadership race

    Vaughan Gething represents a generational and presentational leap from his predecessor Mark Drakeford.

    Labour's new leader relishes the public stage and appears determined to have a punchier presence.

    He talks of wanting to see a "confidence" in Wales's self-expression.

    And yes, his high rhetoric is in marked contrast to the studious, former academic Mark Drakeford.

    Within minutes of his Welsh Labour leadership victory, the Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was on the phone to Gething.

    Both men are aware Labour's long governing record in Wales will be further scrutinised before polling day.

    It will be interesting next to see how Labour in Wales responds to Gething as their new leader.

    Read more of my analysis on how Welsh Labour may change under Gething's leadership here.

  3. Is Vaughan Gething now officially the first minister?published at 14:27 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March

    King Charles IIIImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    King Charles has a symbolic part to play in the process to install Wales' first minister

    Well... Not quite yet...

    Vaughan Gething's nomination by Senedd members is currently on its way to Buckingham Palace for the King's approval.

    After the King responds, Gething can be sworn in and he can then turn his mind to appointing his cabinet.

  4. First minister 'inherits significant challenges'published at 14:19 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March

    Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap IorwerthImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said the new first minister "inherits significant challenges".

    Reacting to Vaughan Gething's nomination to be Wales' next first minister, Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth congratulates him and says the new first minister "inherits significant challenges".

    "We know the Labour leadership campaign was divisive, but we also saw a paucity of new ideas," he says.

    "The people of Wales will rightly be thinking that what lies ahead is likely to be more of the same," he says.

    He also mentions the controversy surrounding the donations Gething received saying that "holders of high office must be able to secure the confidence of the electorate".

    "We will leave no stone unturned in holding the new First Minister and his Labour Welsh government to account," ap Iorwerth adds.

  5. Gething first first minister with an 'ap' in his namepublished at 14:10 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March

    David Deans
    BBC Wales politics reporter

    Vaughan Gething with his familyImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Vaughan Gething celebrated his Welsh Labour leadership with wife Michelle and son Isaac

    A lot has been made in recent weeks about the historical nature of Vaughan Gething's election as the first black leader of a European country.

    But Gething also said he was the "first leader of my party - and indeed my country - with an ap in their name".

    His full name is Humphrey Vaughan ap David Gething, although he uses Gething as a surname.

    Aps are used in the Welsh patronymic naming system, the word indicating the name of someone's father.

    Many common Welsh surnames are anglicised versions of patronymic names. Three Welsh politicians use a patronym - Rhun ap Iorwerth, Rhys ab Owen and Mabon ap Gwynfor.

  6. Welsh Tory leader's message to new first ministerpublished at 14:03 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March

    Andrew RT DaviesImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Andrew RT Davies congratulated Vaughan Gething on being confirmed as Wales' first minister

    As the votes are in, we are now hearing reaction from other Senedd members - and first up is his new verbal sparring partner.

    Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies, congratulates Vaughan Gething on today's vote.

    "Vaughan now has an opportunity for a fresh start, to scrap Labour’s vanity projects and deliver for our NHS, for our schools and for families up and down Wales," Davies says.

    "Our message to Vaughan is clear: If you are prepared to scrap plans for more politicians, to scrap the 20mph speed limit, and scrap the Sustainable Farming Scheme as it stands in its current form, we will work with you to deliver the people’s priorities."

  7. Completing the formalitiespublished at 13:58 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March

    The session ends with Wales' deputy presiding officer David Rees completing the formalities and reading out the result of the first minister vote.

    He says Labour's Vaughan Gething had 27 in favour, while Tory Senedd leader Andrew RT Davies had 13 and Plaid chief Rhun ap Iorwerth had 11.

    Therefore, Rees confirms Gething as Wales' fifth first minister.

  8. 'Our government should look like our country'published at 13:54 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March

    Gething says the Senedd has voted to ensure Wales "becomes the first nation anywhere in Europe to be led by a black person".

    "It is a matter of pride, I believe for a modern Wales, but also a daunting responsibility for me that I do not take lightly."

    He says he expects a "depressingly familiar pattern to emerge" with abuse on social media and racist tropes.

    Some will question "why I am playing the race card", he says, but "it is easy not to care about identity when your own has never once been questioned or held back".

    He says the Wales of today and the future "will be owned by all those decent people who recognise that our parliament and our government should look like our country".

    He ends his speech to a round of applause.

  9. Gething thanks predecessor Mark Drakefordpublished at 13:43 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March

    Vaughan Gething speaks
    Image caption,

    Vaughan Gething pays tribute to former first minister Mark Drakeford behind him, making himself comfortable on the back benches

    In his first words after being nominated as first minister, Vaughan Gething thanks former leader Mark Drakeford "for everything you have done for Wales".

    He said there are "growing numbers" of people in Wales who have never known a time without devolution.

    Mr Gething said: "In recent years we have pushed the boundaries of what is possible with devolution - we did it for example to keep Wales safe.

    "In that same period we have seen unprecedented hostility towards democratic Welsh devolution from a UK government that is determined to undermine, frustrate and bypass the Welsh government and the Senedd.

    "I look forward to stand up for Wales and for devolution in the weeks and months to come."

    He said he wanted Wales "to thrive in the sunshine that hope and social justice can offer all of us."

  10. Vaughan Gething confirmed Wales' first ministerpublished at 13:38 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March

    Vaughan Gething

    "I therefore declare that Vaughan Gething is nominated", deputy presiding officer David Rees says.

    He invited Gething to address the Senedd, to a round of applause.

  11. The roll call is completepublished at 13:37 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March

    David Deans
    BBC Wales politics reporter

    The roll call is complete.

    Senedd members each had to declare who they backed - with everyone present supporting their respective parties.

    The Lib Dem's Jane Dodds supported Vaughan Gething. There were some absent Conservatives - and Labour MS Jenny Rathbone was also not there.

    The votes are now being totted up.

  12. Nomination process gets underwaypublished at 13:32 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March

    Deputy presiding officer David Rees has begun the process.

    The former First Minister Mark Drakeford nominates Vaughan Gething as his successor. The Conservatives nominated Andrew RT Davies and Plaid Cymru nominated Rhun ap Iorwerth.

    The roll call vote has started.

  13. And so it begins...published at 13:31 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March

    Members of the Senedd (MS) are about to nominate the new first minister in the chamber.

    Stay with us and we'll provide you the latest updates.

  14. First black leader of a European countrypublished at 13:24 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March

    Vaughan GethingImage source, Getty Images

    Vaughan Gething spoke in his Welsh Labour leadership acceptance speech of how will be the "first black leader in any European country".

    He said he wanted to "use this moment as a starting point for a more confident march into the future".

    "We'll be there, fighting tooth and nail for the impossible to happen. For the underdog, for the oppressed," Gething, 50, said on Saturday.

    "Yma o Hyd is no longer enough," he said, referring to the Dafydd Iwan protest song, which translates to "still here".

    "We have always been here, we always will be here. The question for us today is 'beth nesa?' What is next?"

    "Can we answer the call to the generation in waiting to deliver the Wales that they want".

  15. Analysis

    Let's set the scene in Cardiff Baypublished at 13:17 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March

    Gareth Lewis
    Political Editor, BBC Wales

    SeneddImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Cardiff Bay is the home the Senedd based in Cardiff Bay

    The Senedd can be a quiet place at times and a windswept Cardiff Bay is not for the faint-hearted during winter months.

    But on a rare bright-ish day there is a definite buzz about the place today.

    A gaggle of Vaughan Gething’s campaign team and Senedd members who supported him are enjoying a coffee in the Oriel, one of the public areas of the building.

    They are shortly about to witness first-hand the fruits of their efforts.

    And in the corridors away from the public gaze, MSs of all parties are wondering who will be in Gething’s new cabinet and what that means for the approach to things like NHS strikes and waiting lists, steel jobs and farmers’ protests.

  16. Will Labour's Plaid co-operation deal continue?published at 13:09 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March

    BBC Radio Wales

    Girl with a school mealImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    All primary school age children in Wales have a free school meal thanks to the Plaid-Labour co-operation agreement

    Plaid Cymru is in a co-operation deal with the Welsh Labour government, where they work together on major policies such as childcare and free school meals.

    It is due to end in November - but given Plaid leader Rhun ap Iowerth's strong criticism of new first minister Vaughan Gething, could it end?

    Speaking on BBC Radio Wales a few days ago, Ap Iorwerth suggested it may do.

    "I make the distinction between questions that are very serious, I think about Vaughan Gething's leadership and decisions that he has taken personally, and what we're paid to do as representatives of the people of Wales," he said.

    "That means having to cooperate. There has never been a party in the history of devolution that has had a majority. I think he's got a lot of work to do to build confidence."

  17. What does Wales' first minister actually do?published at 13:04 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March

    Adrian Browne
    BBC Wales political reporter

    The first minister in Wales, and similarly in Scotland, (Northern Ireland is slightly different due to the power sharing arrangements) is the equivalent in the Welsh government of the prime minister in the UK government.

    The first minister is the face of the Welsh government, the person seen as representing the character, the spirit of that administration.

    The first minister is ultimately responsible for everything the Welsh government does, working with ministers and civil servants to put the policies of that administration into practice across a range of areas such as health, education, local government and agriculture.

    Also, after appointing their cabinet, monitoring how ministers are performing - as well as whether they should be promoted, demoted, left where they are or dismissing - is a matter for the first minister.

    You can read more about the Welsh first minister's responsibilities here.

  18. Five things for Wales' next first minister to dopublished at 12:57 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March

    Gareth Lewis
    Political Editor, BBC Wales

    Vaughan GethingImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Vaughan Gething will take on the biggest job in Welsh politics this week

    So we're about half an hour away from the start of nominations by Senedd members which will almost certainly lead to Welsh Labour's new leader Vauighan Gething become the Wales' next first minister.

    The former economy minister will have a full in-tray too - so what is likely to be top of his agenda?

    • At the very top of Gething's list will be appointing a cabinet this week where he'll consider how many of his supporters to reward and how many of Jeremy Miles' backers to bring on board
    • The NHS is facing big problems with consultants and junior doctors taking industrial action, while waiting lists still contain half a million people
    • Cash for public services are tight. Council tax, for example, is going up while services such as bin collections are being reduced
    • Although Gething has ruled out an M4 relief road around Newport, there will be a review of the guidance councils receive on implementing 20mph speed limits.
    • Gething has said donations he received for his campaign were declared in line with the rules, but questions persists over how appropriate it was to take the money

    You can find out more challenges on what the next first minister faces here

  19. Did Labour Senedd members ask Gething to return cash?published at 12:49 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March

    David Deans
    BBC Wales politics reporter

    Media caption,

    Gething says he can't return £200k donation

    The matter of £200,000 in donations from a controversial waste company dogged Vaughan Gething's leadership campaign.

    On Radio Wales this morning, two Labour MSs declined to say whether or not the incoming first minister was asked in a private meeting to repay the money.

    There has been disquiet in Labour ranks about the cash, and Gething has promised a review.

    To read more about this story click here.

  20. Analysis

    Senedd to go old school...published at 12:41 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March

    Daniel Davies
    BBC Wales political correspondent

    The Senedd chamberImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Computer says no.... as Senedd members will give tech a swerve nominating their new first minister

    There’ll be an unusual sight in the Senedd later. Members usually vote through the tech on their desks in the debating chamber.

    But when it comes to arguably the Senedd’s most important task - appointing a first minister - they use an old-fashioned method: shouting out a name.

    If there is a contest for the job, there’s a roll-call when members take it in turns to call out their preferred candidate.

    In 2016, it resulted in a dramatic tie between Labour’s Carwyn Jones and Plaid Cymru’s Leanne Wood, who had the support of the Conservatives and UKIP.

    The Tories and Plaid will nominate their leaders again today, but it's a symbolic gesture.

    The opposition is divided and the arithmetic stacks up in Labour’s favour.

    Despite some Labour MSs being unhappy about the donations to Vaughan Gething’s Welsh Labour leadership campaign, they are all expected to back him today.