Vaughan Gething breaks down IN TEARS as Welsh First Minister faces losing confidence vote tonight because two of his Labour colleagues in the Senedd are 'off sick'

Under-fire Vaughan Gething this afternoon broke down in tears as he faced the prospect of losing a no-confidence vote in the Senedd.

The Welsh First Minister is facing a showdown after just 81 days in office following the collapse of a co-operation deal between Labour and Plaid Cymru.

Mr Gething has also been involved in a series of rows since he replaced Mark Drakeford as Welsh Labour leader in March.

This includes controversy over £200,000 in donations from a man convicted of environmental crimes, as well as claims Mr Gething may have deleted messages that could be of interest to the Covid Inquiry.

The Welsh Conservatives tabled today's motion of no confidence in the First Minister, which is due to be voted on by Senedd members later this evening.

During this afternoon's debate on the motion, Mr Gething was seen getting visibly upset as one his Labour colleagues spoke out in support of him.

He was comforted by Senedd members from his own party and also seen dabbing at his eyes as Vikki Howells, chair of the Labour group, hit out at a 'Tory gimmick'.

She told the Senedd: 'I believe it would be a travesty if this non-binding Tory gimmick of a motion was to be used to subvert democracy.

'And prevent our leader, democratically elected by party members and trade union affiliates, and this Welsh Labour Government, democratically elected by the citizens of Wales, from fulfilling our manifesto pledges.'

Ms Howells earlier admitted Mr Gething could lose this evening's vote because two Labour members are 'unwell'.

Opposition parties in the Senedd have 30 seats combined - the same number as Labour.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer last week stood by Mr Gething as they teamed up on the general election campaign trail.

At a rally in Abergavenny, Sir Keir thanked Mr Gething for his 'leadership' and said he was 'looking forward to a new partnership' with the First Minister if Labour took over in Westminster. 

Speaking to BBC Radio Wales Breakfast this morning, Ms Howells said she and the rest of the Welsh Labour group are behind Mr Gething and would not resign even if he lost.

She accused the Conservatives of refusing to 'pair' with Labour members.

Pairing is a process used in the UK and Welsh parliaments where when a member of one party cannot vote, a member of the opposition agrees to abstain as well.

She said: 'The Tories knew that before they tabled this motion. As of yesterday, we have been told that they are refusing to pair with us.'

She added: 'This is not a binding vote, bind votes are the votes cast at the ballot box in the Senedd election.

'No, he [Mr Gething] wouldn't have to resign because he just won a democratic vote to be leader of Welsh Labour that was cast on a one member, one vote basis.'

Ms Howells branded the no-confidence vote a 'gimmick' from the Conservatives and insisted the vote and concerns about Mr Gething were not being raised as an issue on the doorstep.

She added: 'I can say that hand on heart that every single member who will be present in the chamber or voting online today will be voted in wholeheartedly with confidence in Vaughan Gething.'

Ms Howells declined to name the two Labour members who are unwell.

Mr Gething said in the Senedd yesterday that he was 'confident' about winning the vote.

Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Welsh Conservatives, said: 'According to Welsh Labour's chair, the Senedd has no confidence in Vaughan Gething.

'The Welsh people have no confidence in Vaughan Gething. The only person left supporting Vaughan Gething is Keir Starmer.'

The Conservatives insisted that the pairing system is not normally used for significant issues.