Calls for £10k cap on donations after Gething downfall

CAMPAIGN GROUP URGES LIMIT ON CONTRIBUTIONS TO CANDIDATES AFTER FALL-OUT FROM FM SELECTION

- By CHRIS HAINES ICNN Senedd Reporter

CAMPAIGNERS have called for a £10,000 cap on political donations following controversy over a £200,000 donation that led to the downfall of former first minister Vaughan Gething.

Mr Gething, who broke no rules, was forced to stand down after accepting the donation from a convicted polluter’s company during the 2024 Welsh Labour leadership race.

Before resigning, the former first minister - who outspent rival Jeremy Miles by £254,600 to £61,800 - urged the Senedd’s standards committee to look into reforming donation rules.

Now, in evidence to the committee's resulting inquiry, witnesses have warned a lack of limits on donations, and a high threshold for reporting, risk damaging public confidence.

Transparency International UK, an anti-corruption nonprofit organisation, said the row over the £200,000 donation has correlated with low levels of trust in the Welsh Government.

‘The group called for a £10,000 cap on contributions to candidates standing in internal elections from any individual or organisation, with limits on how much can be spent.

Transparency International told members of the standards committee: “The Vaughan Gething case also raised questions about the legitimacy of the donations received.

“Some were linked to criminal investigations and convictions.