Welsh First Minister Vaughan Gething sacks cabinet minister over alleged media leak
Hannah Blythyn had been the minister for social partnership since Gething became First Minister of Wales
Last updated 16th May 2024
Wales' Minister for Social Partnership Hannah Blythyn has been sacked from her hob by the country's First Minister Vaughan Gething over an alleged media leak.
In the unprecedented announcement, Gething said “Having reviewed the evidence available to me regarding the recent disclosure of communication to the media, ... I have no alternative but to ask Hannah Blythyn to leave the Government"
Blythyn's replacement has not yet been announced.
In the full statement, the First Minister thanked Hannah Blythyn her work with the LGBTQ+ action plan and leading the fire and rescue services review.
Vaughan Gething's statement ends with “It is of vital importance we are able to maintain confidence amongst Government colleagues so that we work as one to focus on improving the lives of the people in Wales.
“Given Hannah’s talents and experience, I have been clear there is a route back for her to take up a Government position again in future.
“The Government has offered ongoing support to the Member.”
Reactions from across the political spectrum have been coming in.
Leader of the Welsh Conservatives Andrew RT Davies said "“Vaughan Gething’s decisions during the Labour leadership campaign are catching up with him.
“Just weeks into his time as First Minister, Vaughan Gething has had to sack somebody from his Cabinet, which is almost unprecedented in recent memory in Wales.
“Vaughan Gething needs to prove quickly that he is capable of governing Wales, because as it stands his government is being stretched to breaking point by internal divisions.”
Details about when Hannah Blythyn was asked to leave government have not yet been released by the Welsh Government.
Hannah Blythyn's response
Political reaction
Andrew RT Davies MS, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, said:
“Vaughan Gething’s decisions during the Labour leadership campaign are catching up with him.
“Just weeks into his time as First Minister, Vaughan Gething has had to sack somebody from his Cabinet, which is almost unprecedented in recent memory in Wales, for leaking to the media about him.
“Vaughan Gething needs to prove quickly that he is capable of governing Wales, because as it stands his government is being stretched to breaking point by internal divisions.”
“Now Blythyn needs to be clear about where she obtained the messages she leaked from and, if she still has them, why she hasn’t handed them to the COVID inquiry.”
Rhun ap Iorwerth MS, Leader of Plaid Cymru, said:
“In his first two months since his election, Vaughan Gething has undermined the office of First Minister and lost the trust of his party and the nation.
Rather than seizing on the opportunity to put Wales on a fairer and more ambitious path, his tenure has been marred by controversy, a lack of transparency and serious questions about judgement.
The sacking of one of his Ministers, and the allegations and counter allegations which surround it, demonstrates again that the First Minister’s priority is self-preservation rather than the public interest. If anyone should be considering their position, it is the First Minister himself.