New first minister denies government influence can be bought

Vaughan Gething made his debut appearance at first minister's questions on Tuesday

Vaughan Gething has offered assurances that influence in his government cannot be bought, in his debut at first minister's questions in the Senedd.

The Labour politician's leadership campaign was overshadowed by the gift of £200,000 from a company owned by a man prosecuted for waste offences.

The firm is planning to ask the Welsh government for permission for a solar farm in Mr Gething's constituency.

Mr Gething said ministers "have a good track record on doing the right thing".

He said he cannot make government decisions relating to his constituency.

A Labour MS told BBC Wales the donations issue "tarnishes us all" and feeds into the view that politicians are "on the make", while Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth suggested the money came from a "dubious source".

Donations from Dauson Environmental dogged the latter part of Mr Gething's Welsh Labour leadership campaign.

The company is planning to make an application to the Welsh government for a solar farm on the Gwent Levels.

At the weekend Planning Secretary Julie James, the minister who would have to make a decision on the application, said the donation will not affect the planning decision.

Andrew RT Davies said Mr Gething was unsuccessful in getting "more than just a third of the Labour group"

In the Senedd chamber, the Welsh Conservative group leader Andrew RT Davies reminded Mr Gething that while he was not "successful in securing more than just a third of the Labour group" in Cardiff Bay "you were successful in making sure that a local businessman contributed nearly a quarter million pounds to your leadership campaign".

"What measures have you put in place now, that you are first minister, to make sure that there is not the continuing perception that money can buy influence within your government and a seat at the cabinet table?"

Mr Gething replied: "When you look at where we are, in our adherence to the ministerial code and the requirements to separate ministerial interest from constituency ones and personal ones, this government and every iteration of a Welsh Labour-led government has a good track record on doing the right thing, and where there have been challenges action has been taken.

"I'm very clear that I cannot, and will not, make any kind of ministerial choice within my constituency."

Before that exchange, Mr Davies asked Mr Gething if any money remaining from the campaign had been given to Welsh Labour, as per the rules.

"The rules require in this internal Welsh Labour contest that all donations are declared, and both campaigns will need to file their accounts at the end," replied the first minister.

"Once the accounts are filed, no doubt there'll be continuing interest," he said. "And I look forward to being clear about that. I need to finish off the accounts for all of the donations I received of varying amounts."

Rhun ap Iowerth, Plaid Cymru leader, said the first minister "came into the job under a cloud but at least we know that he had a skill for leveraging in money, after he persuaded one individual to donate £200,000 to his leadership campaign".

"I'm sure that the first minister wouldn't want me to remind people of the dubious source of that money," he added.

'Tarnishes us all'

After the exchange, a Labour MS told the BBC: "Vaughan doesn't acknowledge there's a problem, but that doesn't mean there isn't one.

"He seems to think that by toughing it out people will move on. Time will tell. But it will feed into the view that politicians are all the same and are on the make.

"That is not only depressing but it tarnishes us all and will undercut our ability to argue that we represent change and are putting people first. But Vaughan gets the job he wants and seems to think that's a price worth paying."

Dauson-subsidiary Atlantic Recycling and its director David John Neal were prosecuted in 2013 for illegally dumping waste on the Gwent Levels, and in 2017 for failing to clean the waste up.

Mr Neal was fined £10,000 and given a three month suspended sentence in 2013, and was handed an 18 week suspended sentence in 2017, together with fines and costs of £230,000.

Atlantic is currently being prosecuted again by Natural Resources Wales (NRW), which pleaded guilty to an offence in January according to NRW.

It emerged during the campaign that Mr Gething had written and spoken to NRW regarding Atlantic Recycling in 2016, asking the environmental regulator to ease restrictions on the company.

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