WELSH first minister Vaughan Gething was dealt another blow today after Plaid Cymru ended its co-operation agreement with the Labour government with immediate effect.

Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth MS praised the constructive response to Brexit, the pandemic and Tory government but said “since becoming leader, I’ve been determined to hold the Labour Welsh government firmly to account.”

“I remain deeply concerned that the First Minister has failed to pay back the £200,000 donation to his leadership campaign from a company convicted of environmental offences, and believe it demonstrates a significant lack of judgement,” he added.

“Money left over has now been passed on to Keir Starmer’s Labour party.

“I am worried by the circumstances around the decision to sack a member of the government this week relating to matters that should be in the public domain already.”

Mr Gething on Thursday faced calls to resign after he announced the surprise sacking of his minister for social partnership Hannah Blythyn for allegedly leaking text messages to the media on the same day it emerged he will be giving £31,000 to Labour amid controversy over donations to his leadership campaign.

She denied that she had “ever leaked anything.”

It followed him spending most of the £250,000 donations, including £200,000 from a company owned by a man previously convicted of environmental offences.

Mr Gething said the agreement was about “mature politics… we are disappointed Plaid Cymru has decided to walk away from their opportunity to deliver for the people of Wales.” 

Labour and Plaid Cymru entered the co-operation deal after Labour was left with one seat short of an overall majority in the Senedd in the May 2021 elections.

Welsh Conservatives leader Andrew RT Davies MS said Plaid Cymru’s decision was “simply an attempt to save face.”