Health minister Vaughan Gething was caught swearing at fellow Labour colleague Jenny Rathbone AM during Wednesday’s virtual Senedd meeting after accidentally leaving his microphone on.

 

After he finished his contribution in the Senedd business meeting Mr Gething was heard off-camera talking about Ms Rathbone.

He told an unknown person: “What the [expletive] is the matter with her?”

Elin Jones, the presiding officer, told Mr Gething to turn his microphone off. After continued difficulties the Senedd went into a short break. The clip has since been shared widely on social media.

Mr Gething has since apologised Tweeting: “I’m obviously embarrassed about my comments at the end of questions today. I’ve sent a message apologising and offered to speak to Jenny Rathbone if she wishes to do so.

“It is an unwelcome distraction at a time of unprecedented challenge.”

Calls To Resign

Plaid Cymru Leader Adam Price has now called on the First Minister to relieve Welsh Government Health Minister Vaughan Gething of his responsibilities “with immediate effect”.

Mr Price said the Health Minister had not only failed “several times” over the last month but had also “failed to acknowledge” those failures.

He said the Health Minister did not have the “right attitude, skills or temperament to lead the Government’s response to the Coronavirus pandemic” and “aggressively attacks” those who question him – including members of his own party.

Adam Price said: “He has not only failed over the last month several times, he has failed to acknowledge that he has failed and aggressively attacks even those within his own party who question him.

“He does not have the right attitude, skills or temperament to lead the Government’s response to the Coronavirus pandemic.

“To maintain public confidence the First Minister needs to relieve him of these responsibilities with immediate effect.

“There are experienced members on the First Minister’s backbenchers who could be brought into Government to fill any vacuum.”

*Warning: Video contains expletives