Wales elections: Labour's Vaughan Gething is elected as first black First Minister replacing Mark Drakeford an

Vaughan Gething has won the Welsh Labour leadership election, paving the way for him to become Wales' first black First Minister following a contest decided by Labour party members and affiliated organisations this month.

Mr Gething, 50, will officially become First Minister next week, deposing incumbent leader Mark Drakeford, who has been in the role since 2018 and announced plans to resign late last year.

In a historic result, the economy minister and former solicitor, who was born in Zambia, will become the country's fifth leader since the National Assembly for Wales, now called the Senedd, was established in 1999.

Mr Gething was also the first black person to become a cabinet minister in one of the United Kingdom's devolved governments, and acknowledged in his victory speech he would become the first Black leader in any European country.

The father of one moved from the former British colony of Zambia to Dorset as a child and was educated at the Welsh universities of Aberystwyth and Cardiff. He previously served as Deputy Minister for Tackling Poverty, Deputy Minister for Health and Minister for Health and Social Services through the pandemic.

Election results were announced in Cardiff shortly after 10am on Saturday after voting closed Thursday, in polls inviting only Labour members and linked groups, like trade unions, to vote.

Mr Gething, who overcame competition from education minister Jeremy Miles, had the backing of most of the large unions and Lord Kinnock, who led the UK party from 1983 to 1992.  

Mr Gething arrives at the Cardiff University Spark building ahead of the result on March 16

Welsh Labour candidate Vaughan Gething celebrates with his wife Michelle and son Isaac, aged 6, after winning the Cardiff South and Penarth constituency on May 7, 2021 in Cardiff

As Mr Gething was elected, he took time to praise his predecessor and competitor.

He thanked Mr Drakeford for his role in making Wales feel 'safer' at the 'hardest of times', and said he hoped he would remain 'firm friends' with Mr Miles 'once the dust has settled'.

Mr Gething worked with Mr Drakeford as Minister for Health and Social Services between 2016 and 2021, including the pandemic years. 

Mr Gething added that Mr Miles' campaigning, 'the story that you have told, the example that you have set', had set new precedent for the future of Welsh politics.

He referenced Mr Miles' past comments that as a gay man he used to 'wonder if there was a place in the world for someone like me' while growing up in a working-class family in a mining community.

In his victory speech, Mr Gething noted he would become not only the first Black first minister in Wales, but also in Europe.

While acknowledging the work of Mark Drakeford before him, he spoke of the long journey ahead and the challenge of 'division' to overcome.

'Friends, let's get to work,' he concluded.

The leadership race has not been without controversy, most of which has centred on Mr Gething.

There have been a string of concerns raised around £200,000 of donations to Mr Gething from a company which was found guilty of environmental offences in January.

Atlantic Recycling, which is part of Dauson Environmental Group and controlled by David Neal, gave Mr Gething £100,000 on December 18 2023 and £100,000 on January 11 2024.

Atlantic Recycling was also fined £300,000 for one of its worker's deaths in February after it pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety at work rules.

Earlier this week the BBC revealed that Mr Gething had lobbied regulators in favour of the company, asking Natural Resources Wales to ease restrictions on Atlantic Recycling in 2016.

Mr Gething and his team have always insisted the donation was declared in line with Senedd and Electoral Commission rules and that the minister is committed to transparency.

Labour candidate for Cardiff South and Penarth Vaughan Gething celebrates victory in the Welsh Assembly elections with his wife Michelle, at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff

Jeremy Miles arrives at the Cardiff University Spark building ahead of the result on March 16

Early in the campaign concerns were also raised over the Unite union's backing of Mr Gething, after his opponent was disqualified because he has never held 'elected lay office as representatives of workers'.

Mr Miles said it was 'a new rule that no-one was aware of' and that members were unhappy.

But Unite insisted it had carried out the nomination process correctly and Mr Gething said it was up to the union to determine its own democratic processes.

Mr Gething has also spoken candidly about his rise through politics as a person of colour, starting his career as the first Black person at the Welsh National Union of Students (NUS).

He has also shared how he suffered racial abuse growing up as a Black person in Wales, having moved from Zambia to Dorset as a child before attending Aberystwyth and Cardiff universities.

Unlike previous Labour leadership elections, all the votes are equally weighted.

Selection in the past has used an 'electoral college' system, giving greater weight to MPs and Members of the Senedd.

Mr Drakeford is not expected to stand down immediately, with his final first minister's questions on March 19.

A vote will also need to take place in the Senedd at which opposition groups can put forward their own candidates.

With Labour the largest party, it is unlikely that any other group would take the role.

The handover in power comes as Wales faces a challenging time, with farmers protesting, NHS waiting lists hitting record highs and an economy recovering from the coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking to the PA news agency, Mr Drakeford accepted there would be issues for his successor to deal with.

He said: 'At whatever point anybody takes on this job there will always be an in-tray that is full, and it will always be an in-tray that's got some challenging issues in it.'

Asked what advice he would give his successor, Mr Drakeford told them to 'be bold' and to 'push the boundaries'.

He said: 'I've long argued that the danger for my party having been in power for an extended period in Wales is that we might look as though we're simply sort of resting on our laurels, just sort of sitting back and just turning the handle on government.

'The Labour Party is ambitious, it is radical, it is reforming, it will grasp the really challenging issues.'

Upon news Gething had won, Drakeford said: 'I congratulate Vaughan on becoming Welsh Labour leader.

'He will provide the next generation of leadership for the party and I look forward to campaigning with him to deliver the UK Labour government Wales so desperately needs.'

Jo Stevens MP, Labour's shadow secretary of state for Wales, said: 'Vaughan's election begins a new era for Labour in Wales.

'Both candidates can be proud of the campaigns they ran, and I know Vaughan will work quickly to form a government that focuses on the priorities of people in Wales.

'I look forward to working shoulder to shoulder with Vaughan to deliver a UK Labour government and begin the decade of national renewal our United Kingdom so desperately needs.'

Welsh Labour deputy leader Carolyn Harris MP said: 'A fantastic campaign was run by both candidates and their teams, and I look forward to supporting Vaughan in any way I can.

'Now is about bringing the party together behind Vaughan and having a laser-focus on this year's general election, which could be called at any time.'

Mr Drakeford will not stand down immediately and will hold his last first minister's questions on March 19

Mr Drakeford has been in the role since 2018 and announced plans to resign late last year

Sir Keir Starmer sent his thanks to Mark Drakeford ahead of today's result.

The Labour leader said in a statement posted to X: 'Mark Drakeford has serves as First Minister of Wales with distinction.

'He has shown steady leadership, particularly during the turbulent times of the pandemic. His commitment, hard work and service on behalf of the people of Wales has been unswerving.

'I want to personally thank Mark for all he has achieved during his term and as Leader of Welsh Labour and wish him the very best for the future.'