Deputy Minister for Climate Change Lee Waters survives vote of no-confidence

The Deputy Minister for Climate Change, Lee Waters, has survived a vote of no confidence in the Senedd.

The vote had been called by the Welsh Conservatives over the introduction of the 20mph speed limit.

The debate was opened by Shadow Transport Minister Natasha Asghar, who said the 20mph speed limit was just one reason for the vote.

She said: "This 20mph scheme is the straw that broke the camel's back … You've admitted your government doesn't know when it comes to the economy, you branded the Royal College of Nursing extremely militant, and you can't even perform simple tasks like voting, having messed it up three times royally in less than three years."

Labour's Alun Davies interrupted Asghar, calling the vote a "stunt", due to the fact that the debate was tabled for 30 minutes instead of an hour. He said this "didn't allow the issue of 20mph to be given a full debate."

Asghar then continued her speech, saying ''It's evident for everyone to see the Deputy Minister is completely out of his depth, and the fact that he made it to the front bench is, quite frankly, bewildering to everyone."

Labour MS Hefin David spoke in the debate about the abuse Senedd members have received since the 20mph limit was brought in. He also said the language used by some MSs around the issue, such as Asghar, fuelled the messages and emails Senedd members were receiving.

Finally, he showed his support for the Deputy Minister, saying ''I'm going to stand with the Deputy Minister. I think this motion of no-confidence needs to be chucked out. I think we need to treat him with respect for everything he has done, standing up for the people of Wales and fronting up on this issue."

Plaid MS Delyth Jewell said that improvements were needed to be made on how 20mph was implemented, highlighting that the Welsh Government should remind councils that they have powers to remove the speed limit on roads where they feel it's not needed.

She then also showed support for the Deputy Minister, saying ''There is a difference between a policy and a person. This is a cynical motion, it is an ugly tactic."

''It's intended not to improve things, but to whip up people's anger and direct it at one man. It is shameful, reckless and potentially dangerous behaviour. I would caution the Conservatives to think of the consequences of what they do''.

Finally, when it came to voting time, the Deputy Minister had won the confidence of the Senedd. The final vote share was 42 against, 16 for.

• 20mph