Wales' election of its first Black leader means no White man runs a U.K. government for the first time ever
Vaughan Gething elected as Wales' first Black first minister, emphasizing diversity and unity.
- Bilawal Riaz
- 1 min read
Vaughan Gething has been elected as the new first minister of Wales, making history as the first Black leader of a government in the U.K. Elected by members of the Welsh parliament, Gething won 27 of 51 votes to lead the Labour Party in Wales. He highlighted the significance of his appointment, stating that Wales is the first European nation to be led by a Black person. Gething emphasized the importance of celebrating diversity and unity within the country. Once approved by King Charles III, he will take office. With this, three out of four governments in the U.K. now have nonwhite leaders. Wales, one of the four parts of the U.K., has distinct responsibilities from the British government in London, including control over aspects like education and health. Gething has previously served as Wales’ health and economy minister amidst challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and protests over environmental regulations. His leadership was briefly overshadowed by controversies related to campaign donations, but Gething affirmed that these were properly disclosed.