Plaid Cymru Leader Adam Price has called on the First Minister to relieve Welsh Government Health Minister Vaughan Gething of his responsibilities “with immediate effect”.

The Plaid Cymru Leader said the Health Minister had not only failed “several times” over the last month but had also “failed to acknowledge” those failures.

Mr Price said the Health Minister did not have the “right attitude, skills or temperament to lead the Government's response to the Coronavirus pandemic” and “aggressively attacks” those who question him – including members of his own party.

The Health Minister was caught swearing at fellow Labour colleague Jenny Rathbone AM during today’s virtual Senedd plenary meeting after accidentally leaving his microphone unmuted.

Mr Price said that in order to “maintain public confidence”, First Minister Mark Drakeford should relieve the Health Minister of his duties and said there were other “experienced members” on the backbenches who could be brought in to “fill any vacuum”.

The Welsh Government dropped their 5,000 daily testing target earlier this week to strong criticism from opposition parties.

Plaid Cymru Leader Adam Price said,

“He has not only failed over the last month several times, he has failed to acknowledge that he has failed and aggressively attacks even those within his own party who question him.

“He does not have the right attitude, skills or temperament to lead the Government's response to the Coronavirus pandemic.

“To maintain public confidence the First Minister needs to relieve him of these responsibilities with immediate effect.

“There are experienced members on the First Minister’s backbenchers who could be brought into Government to fill any vacuum.