A former Labour minister has broken her silence over her sudden sacking by Vaughan Gething in May.
In a dramatic statement, Hannah Blythyn told the Senedd she has never leaked to the media.
The first minister had alleged that she was the source of a story which revealed Mr Gething told ministers he was deleting messages from a pandemic-era group chat.
But the Labour Member of the Senedd (MS) for Delyn said she was not shown any evidence before she was sacked, was not told she was being investigated, and that the situation left her with acute anxiety and stress.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
But the Labour Member of the Senedd (MS) for Delyn said she was not shown any evidence before she was sacked, was not told she was being investigated, and that the situation left her with acute anxiety and stress.
Speaking as Mr Gething watched from the front of the chamber, Ms Blythyn said “kinder” and “better” people were needed to improve politics.
“I know that I can look all my colleagues who sit on these [Labour] benches in the eye and say that I have never leaked or briefed the media about any of you,” she said.Ms Blythyn’s speech was met with applause - some members tapped their desk, including Mr Gething’s former leadership rival Jeremy Miles.The Welsh government has declined to comment.
Ms Blythyn was absent from a vote of no confidence that Mr Gething lost in May - colleagues said she was off work sick.She began her speech on Tuesday by saying there had been times where she was unsure “I would or could stand or speak” in the Senedd debating chamber again.
"She added that a “younger me who struggled with her sexuality would never ever have believed that one day I would spearhead plans to make Wales the most LGBTQ+ friendly nation in Europe”.
The personal statement from Ms Blythyn was a surprise addition to the Senedd agenda coming before a statement on Mr Gething’s legislative programme.She had denied leaking to the media at the time of her sacking.On the day the decision was announced, Mr Gething said: “Having reviewed the evidence available to me regarding the recent disclosure of communication to the media, I have regrettably reached the conclusion I have no alternative but to ask Hannah Blythyn to leave the government.
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