Vaughan Gething Emerges as Wales’ First Black Leader

Vaughan Gething was elected the new leader of the Welsh Labour Party, making him the first Black leader of Wales and its semi-autonomous government.

The victory was announced on Saturday, March 16, and Gething will take over as the head of one of the U.K.’s devolved administrations.

Gething, 50, the son of a Welsh father and Zambian mother, secured his position by narrowly defeating Education Minister Jeremy Miles, garnering 51.7% of the votes. His election signified a milestone for racial diversity in political leadership within the U.K. and across Europe.

In his victory speech, the outgoing Welsh economy minister and former health minister during the COVID-19 pandemic emphasised the significance of his win for Wales and its future: “Today, we turn a page in the book of our nation’s history. A history we write together.

“Not just because I have the honour of becoming the first Black leader in any European country — but because the generational dial has jumped too. I want us to use this moment as a starting point for a more confident march into the future,” he declared.

Gething will succeed Mark Drakeford, who announced his resignation last year. Upon confirmation by the Welsh parliament on Wednesday, March 20, Gething will become the fifth First Minister of Wales since the establishment of its national legislature in 1999.

His election also means that three of the U.K.’s four governments will now have nonwhite leaders, with U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of Indian heritage and Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf of Pakistani heritage.

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