Welsh Liberal Democrats Rule Out Supporting a Vaughan Gething Budget

Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds has categorically ruled out her party supporting the embattled Labour First Minister Vaughan Gething to pass his budget this autumn in a move likely to increase the pressure on the First Minister to resign his post.

Welsh Labour, which has 30 seats in the Senedd, one short of a majority, needs at least one opposition party to vote with them to pass the budget making the Liberal Democrats king makers in the wake of the collapse of Labour’s co-operation deal with Plaid Cymru.

Jane Dodds has ruled out propping up the Welsh Labour Government over concerns with the Vaughan Gething donation scandal.

Jane Dodds, alongside other opposition members successfully passed a motion of no confidence in the First Minister earlier this month, but Vaughan Gething has since refused to respect the vote and stand down as First Minister.

Dodds has hit back at suggestions from Labour that the vote of no confidence was “a gimmick” stating that it was not an easy decision for her to make and that she has never previously voted in favour of a no confidence vote.

Commenting Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS said: 

“The Welsh Liberal Democrats will not support Labour in passing their budget. Vaughan Gething lost a motion of no confidence in the Senedd and should act accordingly.

The First Minister has had multiple opportunities to do the right thing and return the money. He must now respect the democratic mandate of the Senedd.

Labour’s accusations that this is all a ‘gimmick’ simply aren’t true. I have never backed a motion of no confidence before, it wasn’t an easy decision for me to make. I have made it because I feel the saga is damaging people’s faith in politics at a time it is already at rock bottom.

I will continue to campaign for higher standards in Welsh politics, including a cap on all political donations to remove the influence of big money on our politics.”