Prime Minister calls for transparency over £200,000 donation linked to Vaughan Gething’s leadership campaign.

Rishi Sunak has endorsed calls for an independent inquiry into a significant donation received by Vaughan Gething, the Welsh First Minister, amid growing concerns of a potential conflict of interest. The donation, totalling £200,000, was made by Dauson Environmental Group, owned by David Neal, a man previously convicted of environmental offences. Gething received the funds during his campaign to become the leader of Welsh Labour in early 2021.

During Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Sunak described the matter as “incredibly important,” emphasising the need for transparency and a thorough investigation. The donation has sparked controversy, with opposition parties questioning whether it constitutes a conflict of interest, particularly given Neal’s links to the Welsh government’s Development Bank.

Gething, however, has consistently defended the donation, insisting that all rules and regulations were followed. He stated that he had no involvement in any decisions concerning Dauson Environmental Group or the Development Bank of Wales, and maintained that there was no conflict of interest in accepting the funds.

Despite Gething’s insistence that the process was transparent, he has faced mounting pressure. A Conservative motion is scheduled for a vote in the Senedd, calling for the appointment of an independent adviser to investigate any potential breaches of the ministerial code. In addition, Plaid Cymru has introduced a motion proposing a cap on the maximum amount of political donations an individual Member of the Senedd (MS) can receive annually.

The opposition’s concerns are compounded by the fact that Dauson Environmental Group’s subsidiary, Neal Soil Suppliers, received a loan of £400,000 from the Welsh government’s Development Bank in 2023, which was used to purchase a solar farm. Critics argue that this financial involvement raises questions about the influence of the donation on the Welsh First Minister’s actions.

While Gething rejected calls for an independent investigation into the donation, he appointed former First Minister Carwyn Jones to review the party’s electoral processes, including the scrutiny of campaign financing. The Dauson Group has also faced criticism for ongoing odour problems at its Pembrokeshire landfill site, with local MP Stephen Crabb, who represents the area, highlighting the concerns of his constituents during the Prime Minister’s Questions session.

Crabb pointed out that thousands of residents in Pembrokeshire had been living with foul air due to the landfill, which he described as an ongoing environmental problem. He also underscored the donation’s connection to the company and called for an independent investigation, arguing that the matter was far more than just an internal Labour Party issue.

In his response, Sunak agreed with Crabb, stressing that the issue required transparency and the need for answers. While Gething has previously argued that a “reasonable person” would not see a conflict of interest, the Prime Minister supported further examination into the matter, suggesting that the current situation lacked clarity.

As the controversy continues, the Welsh First Minister faces growing scrutiny from both the media and opposition parties, with the public awaiting a detailed investigation into the circumstances surrounding the £200,000 donation.