In the Senedd next Wednesday (01/05/24), the Welsh Conservatives are using their debate time to bring forward a Senedd motion regarding Vaughan Gething’s donations, and calling on the First Minister to appoint an independent advisor to the ministerial code to investigate any perceived conflict of interests that may exist in relation to the donation.
Over the last few weeks, there has been controversy and grave concern from the people of Wales in relation to a potential breach of the Labour Government’s ministerial code in relation to donations received by Vaughan Gething during his Welsh Labour leadership campaign.
Instead of focusing on our Welsh NHS, and tackling record NHS waiting lists, political discourse continues to focus on Vaughan Gething’s donations, and whether a breach of the ministerial code has occurred.
On Sunday, the Economy Minister directly challenged Gething by telling the BBC he would not have taken the donation.
Commenting ahead of the debate, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies MS, said:
“It’s time to put this issue to bed once and for all.
“Vaughan Gething’s Government has stalled before it could get going, with a senior Minister openly questioning his judgement, all while our public services suffer.
“In order to get on with the job of tackling Labour’s soaring waiting lists, the cancer crisis and poor educational attainment, we need to see a full, independent investigation into Gething’s campaign finances.”
The motion which will be debated on Wednesday reads:
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Recognises the public concern regarding a potential breach of the Welsh Government's ministerial code in relation to donations received by Vaughan Gething.
2. Notes that Vaughan Gething received a £200,000 donation towards his Welsh Labour leadership campaign from the Dauson Environmental Group Limited following a £400,000 loan to the company from the Development Bank of Wales and environment related offences.
3. Calls on the First Minister to appoint an independent advisor to the ministerial code to investigate any conflict of interest that may exist in relation to the donation, with particular reference to points i and ii of paragraph 1.3 of the ministerial code.
