UK

Vaughan Gething to become next Welsh first minister and first black leader of any European country

Vaughan Gething is set to become Wales’s next first minister after winning the Labour leadership race.

Mr Gething, who will also become the first black man to hold the post, is expected to be confirmed as the country’s first minister on Wednesday when a vote will be held in the Senedd.

He will succeed Mark Drakeford, who has held the position since 2018.

The result was announced in a lecture hall at Cardiff University, after Mr Gething beat his only rival, the education minister Jeremy Miles.

Labour have 30 of the Welsh parliament’s 60 seats and are currently in a cooperation agreement with Plaid Cymru, who lend support on certain government policies.

Mr Drakeford announced in December that he would step down in the new year.

Mr Gething paid tribute to Mr Drakeford as he addressed members of the Labour Party upon winning.

More on Cardiff

“What is often said about Mark is he is a details man,” said Mr Gething.

“But he was the right leader at the right time during the pandemic and it is true that we will be forever in his debt to his forensic approach to public policy.

“Not a lot is said about a heart that went into it to the deep and unwavering duty to defend Wales, as a community, as a people, as a family of families.”

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