Vaughan Gething reveals why he sacked Hannah Blythyn

       More Videos

       0 seconds of 37 seconds Volume 90%

       Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts Keyboard Shortcuts EnabledDisabled

       Shortcuts Open/Close / or ?

       Play/Pause SPACE

       Increase Volume ↑

       Decrease Volume ↓

       Seek Forward →

       Seek Backward ←

       Captions On/Off c

       Fullscreen/Exit Fullscreen f

       Mute/Unmute m

       Decrease Caption Size -

       Increase Caption Size + or =

       Seek % 0-9

       Next Up

       Keir Starmer grilled on tax rises by Rigby in June

       00:53

       twitter facebook Email Link https://cdn.jwplayer.com/previews/GAtssUxs Copied

       Live

       00:00

       00:37

       00:37

       More Videos

       Close

       Labour’s First Minister of Wales Vaughan Gething continues hanging on by a shoe string today, as he is accused of wrongly sacking a minister for leaking.

       Mr Gething sacked Welsh Assembly minister Hannah Blythyn in May, accusing her of being the leaker who showed the media messages suggesting Mr Gething had deleted WhatsApp messages during the Covid pandemic while he served as health minister.

       Yesterday Mr Gething told the Senedd that the Government had received a “photograph of a fragment of an iMessage chat from a journalist" in May.

       "Having cross-checked the photograph with a full set of messages, it became clear that the photograph could only have been from one member's phone,"

       He was responding to a personal statement from Ms Blythyn this week, who finally broke her silence and denied ever leaking to the media.

       Sponsored

       Barestep

       BarestepThese New Shoes Are Leaving Neuropathy Experts Baffled

       Undo

       by Taboola by Taboola

       READ MORE: Vaughan Gething sacks minister over leaked message admitting WhatsApp deletion

       Vaughan Gething remains under fire today (Image: Getty)

       In a bombshell intervention this morning, however, the news website that published the leaked WhatsApp messages made the rare move of clarifying Ms Blythyn had not been the source of the leak.

       The intervention by Nation.Cymru blows a hole in the First Minister’s claim, and therefore suggests he wrongly sacked a minister for something she did not do.

       In an article entitled “Hannah Blythyn was not our source”, Nation.Cymru’s chief executive Mark Mansfield said: “Protecting sources is very important for all journalists and we take that responsibility extremely seriously”.

       “It is important that whistleblowers can rest assured that their identity will not be disclosed by any news outlet to whom they reveal important matters of public interest.

       “As a rule it follows that we will not enter into public debate about who may have been the source of stories we have published.

       “Events of this week have, however, prompted us to consider carefully the implications of Hannah Blythyn’s personal statement to the Senedd on Tuesday and Vaughan Gething’s response to it on Wednesday.”

       Don't miss...

       New bombshell poll of ex-Tory voters reveal they want former PM to return [LATEST]

       Suella Braverman publicly slams Kemi Badenoch as Tory anger spills over [LATEST]

       New Labour minister Patrick Vallance takes major swipe at Brexit [LATEST]

       Ms Blythyn (back row, middle) was seen shaking her head this week at Mr Gething's claims (Image: BBC)

       SUBSCRIBE Invalid email

       We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

       The site also accused Mr Gething of using the sacking as a way of “diverting attention” from the contents of the messages, which are themselves very damaging.

       In a statement to the statutory Covid inquiry at the start of its probe, the now-First Minister said he had WhatsApp’s automatically deleted messages setting turned on, meaning key records of his time as Welsh health minister during the pandemic were missing as evidence.

       His inquiry “statement of truth” was signed by him, pledging that the claims were true, and acknowledging that proceedings may be brought against anyone who makes false statements.

       In stark contrast, the leaked messages saw Mr Gething say: “I’m deleting the messages in this group. They can be captured in an FOI and I think we are all in the right place on the choice being made”.

       Trending

       Responding to today’s development, the Welsh Conservatives said it was “almost impossible to believe the first minister’s version of events”.

       DON'T MISS

       Powered by

       New crisis for Vaughan Gething as claims 'he sacked wrong person over leaks' surfaces

       Comments

       Shocking moment dingy packed with migrants sets off as French police watch on

       301 Comments

       Reform UK civil war erupts as Nigel Farage unveils new roles after election

       1000 Comments

       Keir Starmer reveals true Brexit plans as he promises 'reset' with EU

       190 Comments

       Barack Obama ‘snubbed' Gordon Brown in 2009

       3 Comments

       Ed Miliband shoots himself in foot as Labour's top union donor hits out in North Sea row

       753 Comments

       Keir Starmer urged to 'immediately' kick Labour MP out of party over 'disgraceful' protest

       440 Comments

       New bombshell poll of ex-Tory voters reveal they want former PM to make a comeback

       96 Comments

       Keir Starmer breaks silence on Euros Bank Holiday rumours

       19 Comments

       Humiliation for SNP leader facing new leadership row just 64 days after being sworn in

       20 Comments

       Keir Starmer's Labour Party boosted by ￡19.5m from just 11 donors - this is who they are

       49 Comments

       Nigel Farage issues dire five-word warning as cash drains out of Britain after Labour win

       914 Comments

       Jacob Rees-Mogg warns Tories will 'lose even more seats' if they move to centre

       191 Comments

       Tony Blair has set a devastating trap for Keir Starmer to walk straight into

       738 Comments

       Welsh leader Vaughan Gething dragged 'kicking and screaming' to face another crunch vote

       62 Comments

       King Charles and Queen Camilla beam as they arrive at the Senedd in Cardiff

       12 Comments

       NHS in crisis and 20mph limits - what to expect from Starmer if Wales is anything to go by

       30 Comments

       Rachel Reeves just triggered fresh alarm bells over punishing ￡15bn Labour tax bombshell

       271 Comments

       The 11 Cabinet ministers ousted from Parliament in Tory election nightmare

       130 Comments

       Nigel Farage set to make triumphant return to GB News show after huge election win

       60 Comments

       New crisis for Vaughan Gething as claims 'he sacked wrong person over leaks' surfaces

       Comments

       Shocking moment dingy packed with migrants sets off as French police watch on

       301 Comments

       Reform UK civil war erupts as Nigel Farage unveils new roles after election

       1000 Comments

       Keir Starmer reveals true Brexit plans as he promises 'reset' with EU

       190 Comments

       Barack Obama ‘snubbed' Gordon Brown in 2009

       3 Comments

       Ed Miliband shoots himself in foot as Labour's top union donor hits out in North Sea row

       753 Comments

       Keir Starmer urged to 'immediately' kick Labour MP out of party over 'disgraceful' protest

       440 Comments

       New bombshell poll of ex-Tory voters reveal they want former PM to make a comeback

       96 Comments

       Keir Starmer breaks silence on Euros Bank Holiday rumours

       19 Comments

       Humiliation for SNP leader facing new leadership row just 64 days after being sworn in

       20 Comments

       Keir Starmer's Labour Party boosted by ￡19.5m from just 11 donors - this is who they are

       49 Comments

       Nigel Farage issues dire five-word warning as cash drains out of Britain after Labour win

       914 Comments

       Jacob Rees-Mogg warns Tories will 'lose even more seats' if they move to centre

       191 Comments

       Tony Blair has set a devastating trap for Keir Starmer to walk straight into

       738 Comments

       Welsh leader Vaughan Gething dragged 'kicking and screaming' to face another crunch vote

       62 Comments

       King Charles and Queen Camilla beam as they arrive at the Senedd in Cardiff

       12 Comments

       NHS in crisis and 20mph limits - what to expect from Starmer if Wales is anything to go by

       30 Comments

       Rachel Reeves just triggered fresh alarm bells over punishing ￡15bn Labour tax bombshell

       271 Comments

       The 11 Cabinet ministers ousted from Parliament in Tory election nightmare

       130 Comments

       Nigel Farage set to make triumphant return to GB News show after huge election win

       60 Comments

       New crisis for Vaughan Gething as claims 'he sacked wrong person over leaks' surfaces

       Comments

       Shocking moment dingy packed with migrants sets off as French police watch on

       301 Comments

       Reform UK civil war erupts as Nigel Farage unveils new roles after election

       1000 Comments

       Keir Starmer reveals true Brexit plans as he promises 'reset' with EU

       190 Comments

       Barack Obama ‘snubbed' Gordon Brown in 2009

       3 Comments

       Ed Miliband shoots himself in foot as Labour's top union donor hits out in North Sea row

       753 Comments

       Keir Starmer urged to 'immediately' kick Labour MP out of party over 'disgraceful' protest

       440 Comments

       Defending the first minister, a source close to Mr Gething said the first minister had "said the image came from her phone, which is different to her being Nation.Cymru's source”.

       The Welsh Conservatives have tabled a motion for debate in the Senedd on Wednesday, calling for the Welsh government to publish all evidence he relied upon in sacking Ms Blythyn, with redactions to ensure anonymity of witnesses.

       The party said if it passed it "may" force Mr Gething to release any evidence.

       Related articles Brexit negotiator Lord Frost sends dire warning over EU's demands for Labour Sadiq Khan blasted over plans to hammer drivers with new charge after ULEZ Jacob Rees-Mogg warns Tories will 'lose even more seats' if they move to centre Reform UK civil war erupts as Nigel Farage unveils new top team after election Royalist campaigners call for Labour MP to lose whip over anti-monarchy protest