Vaughan Gething has been confirmed as Wales’s new first minister after a vote of Senedd members.

Mr Gething was elected leader of Welsh Labour on Saturday and was announced as first minister after Mark Drakeford formally stood down on Tuesday.

He is the first black leader of any European nation, “a matter of pride” Mr Gething said, but also a “daunting responsibility”.

He was supported by 27 members – all Labour Senedd members present as well as Welsh Liberal Democrat leader, Jane Dodds.

Former first minister Mr Drakeford nominated Mr Gething for the position.

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth and Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies were also nominated by their respective parties. They received 11 and 13 respectively.

Vaughan Gething began his statement to the Senedd by paying tribute to his predecessor Mark Drakeford.

Mark Drakeford officially steps down as Wales’s first minsiter

Vaughan Gething: The vet’s son and cricket fan who’s set to become Wales’s first minister

Vaughan Gething: What problems are facing the new Welsh leader?

“Diolch yn fawr [Thank you very much] Mark for everything you have done for Wales,” he said.

Mr Gething said he looked forward “to standing up for Wales and for devolution in the weeks and months to come”.

“But I relish the opportunity to cooperate for Wales with a new UK government that invests in partnership and in Wales’s future,” he added.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

He said he would offer Wales policies “rooted in Welsh values” and “a leadership based on hope”.

“It is very easy not to care about identity, when your own has never once been questioned or held you back,” he said.

“I believe the Wales of today and the future will be owned by all those decent people who recognize that our parliament and our government should look like our country.”

He concluded by saying he wants to lead “a Wales full of hope, ambition and opportunity”.

Related posts:

Northern Ireland row leaves troubling and lingering impression at G7 summit As the PM is accused of ‘betraying’ the North, this is what he’s said on HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail Ofcom urged to review Russia Today as broadcaster branded Putin’s ‘propaganda tool’ Rises in prices of bread, diamonds, gas: How will Russia’s invasion of Ukraine affect the UK? PM to face questions on ‘integrity in politics’ after MP groping claims and partygate Boris Johnson vows to ‘keep going’ despite more than a dozen resignations PM secures new post-Brexit deal with EU on Northern Ireland: Five key sections of the text | Sam Coates Watch live: Scottish parliament votes to confirm the new first minister Michael Gove calls for relaxation of net zero measures Why Sunak’s new promise after Rwanda ruling looks extremely hard to keep | Beth Rigby Starmer ‘right to be firm’ on ceasefire rebels – shadow minister Johnson like ‘absent football manager’ as pandemic hit, says Welsh leader