Profile: Who is Vaughan Gething the First Minister of Wales

Vaughan Gething made history in March when he became the first black leader of any European country.

Published Jun 5, 2024

Vaughan Gething, at Cardiff University, after being elected as the next Welsh Labour leader and First Minister of Wales, the first black leader of any European country

Vaughan Gething made history in March when he became the first black leader of any European country, succeeding Mark Drakeford as the First Minster of Wales.

He described his victory as “a matter of pride for a modern Wales but also a daunting responsibility for me – and one that I do not take lightly”.

He joined the Labour Party at 17 to help campaign in the 1992 elections.

First Minister of Wales Vaughan Gething speaks at the launch of Labour’s six steps for change in Wales at the Priory Centre in Abergavenny (Stefan Rousseau/PA)