Vaughan Gething quizzed by Welsh Parliament after quitting as first minister

Huw Thomas
Business correspondent, BBC Wales

Image source, PA Media

When Vaughan Gething turned up at the steelworks in Port
Talbot during the general election campaign, he was dogged by questions about
his judgement.

Instead of pushing UK Labour’s plans for steel, he had to
face journalists who pressed him about the issues which have ultimately led to
his resignation.

The future of Tata Steel should have been preoccupying
Gething’s administration.

He had secured the backing of all three unions – Community,
Unite and the GMB – representing steelworkers during the course of his
leadership campaign. But in bringing the UK election campaign to the door of
the steelworks, he could not quieten his critics or take the focus away from
the crisis that had engulfed him.

Little wonder, perhaps, that the reaction from business
today has been to push for stability.

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) director in
Wales, Ian Price, said it would be “seeking reassurances” that Wales had the
“political stability needed to attract investment and create jobs”.

Along with other business organisations such as the
Institute of Directors and the Federation of Small Businesses, it had begun
lobbying Vaughan Gething’s administration – and his economy minister Jeremy
Miles – about the issues facing firms in Wales.

Improving skills, boosting connectivity and managing the
transition to net zero are among the challenges that businesses say they want
to discuss with the Welsh government once it’s under new leadership.