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Vaughan Gething, a Zambian-born barrister, is the first Black head of government in Wales, the UK, and Europe.
Upon assuming office, the pioneer stated, “Today we change a page in the book of our country’s history—a history we write together. According to NPR, becoming the first Black leader in any European country has resulted in a shift in generational dynamics.
Following the departure of his predecessor, Mark Drakeford, the 50-year-old was elected by the Welsh parliament in Cardiff and authorized by King Charles III. He now serves as the first minister of Wales.
Aware that his race and origin could cause some controversy, he stated, “It is a source of pride, I believe, for a modern Wales, but it is also a big duty for me, one that I do not take lightly. Today, however, we can expect a depressingly familiar pattern to emerge, with social media abuse, racial clichés disguised as polite language, and people questioning my motives. According to The New York Times, some may still question or deny my nationality, while others may wonder why I’m using the race card.
According to government figures, roughly 94 percent of the three million population in Gething’s district is white.
Addressing the critics, he said, “It’s very easy not to care about identity when your own has never been questioned or held back. I believe that the Wales of today and tomorrow will be owned by all decent people who recognize that our Parliament and government should reflect our country.”
Gething is the first Welsh leader to emerge after the devolution of powers from London to national governments in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, which began with public votes in the late 1990s.
As first minister, he will oversee the Welsh Government and maintain the Welsh Seal. Aside from that, he will chair the Welsh Cabinet and be in responsible of devising, presenting, and implementing Welsh government policy.
According to the BBC, the first minister represents the Welsh government’s character and soul.
Gething was born in Zambia to a Zambian mother who was a chicken farmer and a White Welsh father who worked as a veterinarian. He came to England when he was two years old, growing up in Dorset before going to university in Wales.
According to The Guardian, his parents endured bigotry on their move to Britain. However, at the age of 17, he joined the Labour Party after reading about Nelson Mandela in his newspaper round, which inspired him.
Gething went to Aberystwyth and Cardiff universities, where he became the first Black president of the National Union of Students Wales, before becoming a trade union lawyer.
According to Forbes, gething has been a long-standing practice in the Welsh government. He made his debut in the Welsh legislature in 2011, and in 2013, he became the first Black minister in a devolved country of the United Kingdom. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he served as Wales’ health minister and is now the country’s economy minister since 2021.
According to the Associated Press, Gething is the fifth first minister of Wales since the Senedd was established in 1999. He was elected Welsh Labour leader with a slender majority of 51.7% of the vote.
With his election, three of the United Kingdom’s four countries—England, Wales, and Scotland—now have nonwhite leaders. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is of Indian background, whereas Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf has Pakistani ancestry.
