The nightmare scenario for Welsh Labour - and how to avoid it

It's an interesting scenario for 2026, a Plaid and Tory partnership. However, the only way that would ever happen is if the Welsh Conservatives booted out Davies and separated themselves from the toxic central party. For those more moderate Conservatives reading this - something to think about? What would it take for your party to finally put Cymru first?

The only reason Gething is still in charge is because there is a General Election coming up. If Gething went now - before July 4th - it would be hugely damaging for Labour central. The only Labour run nation in the UK, in chaos, with a Labour leader resigning because of a row over dodgy donations? (a donation which broke no rules - which just makes the general public think that the rule of government are corrupt as well). Opposition would have a field day. Make no mistake - after the General Election is over, Gething is toast. Voters might also like to think about how little regard Labour Central has for Wales. They are happy for a Labour leader with a no confidence vote to badly damage public confidence in Welsh Government - rather than rock Starmer’s boat before the General Election.

Do Lee Waters and Hannah Blythyn have the courage to return to the Senedd as Independent MSs?

I want to see an independent Cymru and, obviously, Plaid Cymru is the only political party offering independence so has my support. If there was even a hint that they would form a coalition with the tories that would precipitate the permanent end of my support!

The nightmare scenario, besides Vaughan Gething remaining as First Minister, is another 5 years of a Welsh Labour rule in government. Imagine, in 2026 the Conservatives in Wales will face similar predicament as they did in 1997 where they were wiped out at Westminster but gained an undeserved foothold thanks to devolution, the very same institution they campaigned with so much venom to abolish in 1997 that gave them a voice. And in 2026 Welsh Labour will go into that election by reaching an unfortunate milestone of 27 years in power. And god forbid they win another term in office would have been in continuous office for 32 years by 2031. It's borderline North Korea. Only difference is. North Korea is independent country where we've got the worst of both worlds. Ruled by Welsh labour, dictated to by English Labour in London. Time we broke this political chain that binds us tightly.

Confession, I am a Labour member, I voted for Vaughn and sadly I agree that he needs to go. The Tories do worse things but that is not the issue, Labour must be better and the same clearly applies to Plaid through their actions and deeds as well. We are Welsh and live to a better standard.

When Welsh Labour chose Mark Drakeford as party leader and, ipso facto, propelled him into the role of first minister, I confess that my heart sank because I thought he'd be a dead loss. His previous roles in government had hardly set the Cymric 'house on fire', and I thought that he'd turn out to be dreary, plodding, pedestrian and without inspiration. As things turned out, I came to realize that I'd been quite wrong: I didn't always agree with him, but over time it became obvious to me - particularly in the context of the response to the pandemic - that he was a politician with qualities of real honesty and integrity, and, especially, in today's political climate that's surely a jewel beyond price. Vaughan Gething's performance as health minister also impressed me; he always seemed to me to be calm, rational and on top of his brief. So when he came out on top in the contest to succeed Mr Drakeford as Labour leader my initial sense was that he'd be the proverbial 'safe pair of hands'. However as things have turned out, it's increasingly clear to me that he isn't, and his stewardship as first minister has already been fatally tainted by his poor judgement and his subsequent arrogance when his campaign judgements have been challenged. Maybe we're now at the very start of the moment when Labour's decades-long and largely unchallenged command of Welsh politics is just beginning to fragment. Donkeys' years of one-party dominance is never usually a good thing, so in the long run perhaps the scandal of the £200,000 donation might turn out to be positive for Wales. Time will tell - maybe this will turn out to be Plaid's opportunity, finally and lastingly, to break out of being cramped, cabined and confined as just 'the party of 'y Fro Cymraeg'.

'But the YouGov poll this week that put Plaid Cymru just seven points behind Labour in a Senedd election indicates that people in Wales are increasingly prepared to vote differentially when they have a grievance.' Welsh Labour clearly need to reflect on the apparent implications of this statistic in the context of the fact that Labour support across the UK as a whole still seems to be soaring. The moral surely is that if you find yourself in a hole the worst thing that you can do is to continue digging, which is what Welsh Labour under Mr Gething's leadership still seems set on doing.

Labour has lost its way, more tory than traditional labour and that includes the Welsh branch. Our Labour MPs do nothing to fight the great robbery of Wales by Westminster and England neither do those in the Senedd. We need a party of and for Wales. Plaid is the only answer

The Labour party might have made Gething leader but he is elected to FM position by Senedd and Senedd have now reversed that decision by having no confidence in him, time to go, damage is being done to Labour in Wales and politics in Wales. Listening to Skates defending him by saying we have to make sure Labour is elected to UK govt is an affront to governance in Wales. He should be working to deliver for Welsh people.

It's Sunday morning and he's still in charge, it's unbelievable

A very dubious bit exceedingly wealthy individual donated a huge sum of money to the UK Conservative party's funds, and various Tory luminaries piously deplore his sentiments. But nonetheless the Conservative party still not only hangs on to the money, but also accepts a further large donation from him. The new leader of Welsh Labour accepted a smaller but nonetheless very significant donation from an equally dubious and very wealthy individual to fund his leadership bid, and, despite the inevitable resultant criticism, refuses to accept that he might have acted ... well, at least imprudently. Maybe someone on this thread can explain the essential difference to me, because, right now, I can't see it.

I sincerely hope that Plaid Cymru does NOT entertain another coalition deal with either the Conservatives or the Labour Party in Wales. They are in a fortunate position such as has not been seen for years, and bailing out either the Tories or Labour will not do them any favours and are indeed, likely to be seen as Westminster's lap dogs. I understand that the co-operative agreement was largely successful and seen by many in the party as essential to help ease the housing crisis and gelping to alleviate the effects of child poverty by introducing free school meals. However, entering another coalition deal to prop up a Labour or Tory Government would be a mistake.

The nightmare scenario is another 2 years of Vaughan Gething as First Minister, and the milestone , or millstone, that in 2026 if they win the next Senedd election will mean another term in office and by 2032 would mean 31 years as Welsh Government. For Wales it's all Labour pains and no gain. Where's the epidural, hammer, anything? 😖

Let’s keep a sense of perspective. Tories have been given over £15 million by someone who wants to shoot a black Labour mp and Gething has had 200k for which the donator has seen no material advantage. For Shipton to talk about Gething’s sense of privilege and narcissism and his constant criticism of Gething strikes me as no more tha racism. It is as if if thinks a black man show know his place and that is not as First Minister

Vaughn Gething has not performed well in government he has been responsible for Health and Commerce portfolios and was a key member of the disastrous Drakeford Administration.Wales is really lagging behind in the UK and Labour here must accept most of the responsibility.A change is probably needed in Britain overall because the Conservatives have also been in power too long in the UK and Welsh voters should realise Labour has been in control far too long in Wales.Health,Education, Business, Farming, Transport etc. We need to start voting for the best candidates, not just those with a red rosette.I am from a Welsh Mining, Engineering and Farming background of over 6 generations.