First minister Vaughan Gething looks set to lose a vote of no confidence in his leadership later, after one of his members said that two colleagues are off sick. The Conservatives called the Senedd vote after weeks of criticism, including some in Labour, of the donations to Mr Gething’s leadership campaign.
Vikki Howells, the chair of the Labour group of MSs, told Radio Wales Breakfast that two members are currently unwell. She said Vaughan Gething would not stand down if he lost, saying it was a “gimmick” and it was to the “voting public to decide who is in the Senedd”. Mr Gething would not resign if he loses, Ms Howells said.
With Labour holding exactly half the seats in the 60 seat Welsh Parliament, it needs every backbencher to support the first minister.
The Conservatives have refused to agree to a pairing arrangement where some of their members would not vote in return for Labour absences. Their motion could be successful if at least one Labour Senedd member either rebels, abstains or does not take part.It is possible for members of the Senedd to vote remotely, and they can get a proxy vote for long term absence.
Cynon Valley MS Vikki Howells said: “This vote that will be being held this afternoon is just a gimmick by the Tories who are desperate to deflect from their disastrous 14 years in government. This is a party that will do anything to shift the focus elsewhere when we should be focusing on a general election.
She said Labour has always “paired with the Tories” to cancel out the impact of any members who are absent.
“We do have two Labour members who are currently unwell. The Tories knew that before they tabled this motion which as of yesterday, we have been told that they are refusing to pair with us.” She added: “This is not a binding vote. The binding votes are the votes that are cast at the ballot box in a Senedd election.
Welsh Conservative Senedd leader Andrew RT Davies said it was “exceptionally unlikely in any parliamentary democracy on a confidence issue that a pairing system would kick in”. He said the pairing system was there for “more mundane votes.
Source: BBC
