Vaughan Gething nominated as Wales' first minister

PA MediaCopyright: PA Media

Vaughan Gething represents a generational and presentational leap from his predecessor Mark Drakeford.

Labour's new leader relishes the public stage and appears determined to have a punchier presence.

He talks of wanting to see a "confidence" in Wales's self-expression.

And yes, his high rhetoric is in marked contrast to the studious, former academic Mark Drakeford.

Within minutes of his Welsh Labour leadership victory, the Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was on the phone to Gething.

Both men are aware Labour's long governing record in Wales will be further scrutinised before polling day.

It will be interesting next to see how Labour in Wales responds to Gething as their new leader.

Read more of my analysis on how Welsh Labour may change under Gething's leadership here.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Well... Not quite yet...

Vaughan Gething's nomination by Senedd members is currently on its way to Buckingham Palace for the King's approval.

After the King responds, Gething can be sworn in and he can then turn his mind to appointing his cabinet.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Reacting to Vaughan Gething's nomination to be Wales' next first minister, Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth congratulates him and says the new first minister "inherits significant challenges".

"We know the Labour leadership campaign was divisive, but we also saw a paucity of new ideas," he says.

"The people of Wales will rightly be thinking that what lies ahead is likely to be more of the same," he says.

He also mentions the controversy surrounding the donations Gething received saying that "holders of high office must be able to secure the confidence of the electorate".

"We will leave no stone unturned in holding the new First Minister and his Labour Welsh government to account," ap Iorwerth adds.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

A lot has been made in recent weeks about the historical nature of Vaughan Gething's election as the first black leader of a European country.

But Gething also said he was the "first leader of my party - and indeed my country - with an ap in their name".

His full name is Humphrey Vaughan ap David Gething, although he uses Gething as a surname.

Aps are used in the Welsh patronymic naming system, the word indicating the name of someone's father.

Many common Welsh surnames are anglicised versions of patronymic names. Three Welsh politicians use a patronym - Rhun ap Iorwerth, Rhys ab Owen and Mabon ap Gwynfor.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

As the votes are in, we are now hearing reaction from other Senedd members - and first up is his new verbal sparring partner.

Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies, congratulates Vaughan Gething on today's vote.

"Vaughan now has an opportunity for a fresh start, to scrap Labour’s vanity projects and deliver for our NHS, for our schools and for families up and down Wales," Davies says.

"Our message to Vaughan is clear: If you are prepared to scrap plans for more politicians, to scrap the 20mph speed limit, and scrap the Sustainable Farming Scheme as it stands in its current form, we will work with you to deliver the people’s priorities."

The session ends with Wales' deputy presiding officer David Rees completing the formalities and reading out the result of the first minister vote.

He says Labour's Vaughan Gething had 27 in favour, while Tory Senedd leader Andrew RT Davies had 13 and Plaid chief Rhun ap Iorwerth had 11.

Therefore, Rees confirms Gething as Wales' fifth first minister.

Gething says the Senedd has voted to ensure Wales "becomes the first nation anywhere in Europe to be led by a black person".

"It is a matter of pride, I believe for a modern Wales, but also a daunting responsibility for me that I do not take lightly."

He says he expects a "depressingly familiar pattern to emerge" with abuse on social media and racist tropes.

Some will question "why I am playing the race card", he says, but "it is easy not to care about identity when your own has never once been questioned or held back".

He says the Wales of today and the future "will be owned by all those decent people who recognise that our parliament and our government should look like our country".

He ends his speech to a round of applause.

BBCCopyright: BBC

In his first words after being nominated as first minister, Vaughan Gething thanks former leader Mark Drakeford "for everything you have done for Wales".

He said there are "growing numbers" of people in Wales who have never known a time without devolution.

Mr Gething said: "In recent years we have pushed the boundaries of what is possible with devolution - we did it for example to keep Wales safe.

"In that same period we have seen unprecedented hostility towards democratic Welsh devolution from a UK government that is determined to undermine, frustrate and bypass the Welsh government and the Senedd.

"I look forward to stand up for Wales and for devolution in the weeks and months to come."

He said he wanted Wales "to thrive in the sunshine that hope and social justice can offer all of us."

BBCCopyright: BBC

"I therefore declare that Vaughan Gething is nominated", deputy presiding officer David Rees says.

He invited Gething to address the Senedd, to a round of applause.

The roll call is complete.

Senedd members each had to declare who they backed - with everyone present supporting their respective parties.

The Lib Dem's Jane Dodds supported Vaughan Gething. There were some absent Conservatives - and Labour MS Jenny Rathbone was also not there.

The votes are now being totted up.

Deputy presiding officer David Rees has begun the process.

The former First Minister Mark Drakeford nominates Vaughan Gething as his successor. The Conservatives nominated Andrew RT Davies and Plaid Cymru nominated Rhun ap Iorwerth.

The roll call vote has started.

Members of the Senedd (MS) are about to nominate the new first minister in the chamber.

Stay with us and we'll provide you the latest updates.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Vaughan Gething spoke in his Welsh Labour leadership acceptance speech of how will be the "first black leader in any European country".

He said he wanted to "use this moment as a starting point for a more confident march into the future".

"We'll be there, fighting tooth and nail for the impossible to happen. For the underdog, for the oppressed," Gething, 50, said on Saturday.

"Yma o Hyd is no longer enough," he said, referring to the Dafydd Iwan protest song, which translates to "still here".

"We have always been here, we always will be here. The question for us today is 'beth nesa?' What is next?"

"Can we answer the call to the generation in waiting to deliver the Wales that they want".

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Plaid Cymru is in a co-operation deal with the Welsh Labour government, where they work together on major policies such as childcare and free school meals.

It is due to end in November - but given Plaid leader Rhun ap Iowerth's strong criticism of new first minister Vaughan Gething, could it end?

Speaking on BBC Radio Wales a few days ago, Ap Iorwerth suggested it may do.

"I make the distinction between questions that are very serious, I think about Vaughan Gething's leadership and decisions that he has taken personally, and what we're paid to do as representatives of the people of Wales," he said.

"That means having to cooperate. There has never been a party in the history of devolution that has had a majority. I think he's got a lot of work to do to build confidence."

The first minister in Wales, and similarly in Scotland, (Northern Ireland is slightly different due to the power sharing arrangements) is the equivalent in the Welsh government of the prime minister in the UK government.

The first minister is the face of the Welsh government, the person seen as representing the character, the spirit of that administration.

The first minister is ultimately responsible for everything the Welsh government does, working with ministers and civil servants to put the policies of that administration into practice across a range of areas such as health, education, local government and agriculture.

Also, after appointing their cabinet, monitoring how ministers are performing - as well as whether they should be promoted, demoted, left where they are or dismissing - is a matter for the first minister.

You can read more about the Welsh first minister's responsibilities here.

PA MediaCopyright: PA Media

So we're about half an hour away from the start of nominations by Senedd members which will almost certainly lead to Welsh Labour's new leader Vauighan Gething become the Wales' next first minister.

The former economy minister will have a full in-tray too - so what is likely to be top of his agenda?

• At the very top of Gething's list will be appointing a cabinet this week where he'll consider how many of his supporters to reward and how many of Jeremy Miles' backers to bring on board
• The NHS is facing big problems with consultants and junior doctors taking industrial action, while waiting lists still contain half a million people
• Cash for public services are tight. Council tax, for example, is going up while services such as bin collections are being reduced
• Although Gething has ruled out an M4 relief road around Newport, there will be a review of the guidance councils receive on implementing 20mph speed limits.
• Gething has said donations he received for his campaign were declared in line with the rules, but questions persists over how appropriate it was to take the money

You can find out more challenges on what the next first minister faces here

The matter of £200,000 in donations from a controversial waste company dogged Vaughan Gething's leadership campaign.

On Radio Wales this morning, two Labour MSs declined to say whether or not the incoming first minister was asked in a private meeting to repay the money.

There has been disquiet in Labour ranks about the cash, and Gething has promised a review.

To read more about this story click here.