FORMER west Dorset student Vaughan Gething has resigned as the leader of the Welsh Government.

In a statement announcing his resignation, he said: “I have this morning taken the difficult decision to begin the process of stepping down as leader of the Welsh Labour Party and, as a result, First Minister.

“Having been elected as leader of my party in March, I had hoped that over the summer a period of reflection, rebuilding and renewal could take place under my leadership.

“I recognise now that this is not possible.

“It has been the honour of my life to do this job even for a few short months.

“To see the dedication to public service from our civil service and the dedication to civility from the Welsh public.

“To see the election of a new government in Westminster, and the fresh hope that brings to Wales.

“I have always pursued my political career to serve Wales.”

It came after four ministers in the Welsh Government resigned and called on Mr Gething to resign.

The resigning ministers – including his former leadership rival Jeremy Miles – said Mr Gething had to go to restore confidence in the Welsh Government after a series of scandals.

Mr Gething lost a vote of no confidence in the Senedd following rows over his decision to sack former minister Hannah Blythyn and a furore about donations he took while running to be Welsh Labour leader, while Labour’s co-operation deal in the Senedd with Plaid Cymru has collapsed.

Mr Miles, Mick Antoniw, Julie James and Lesley Griffiths posted their resignation letters online in an open show of opposition to Mr Gething’s continued leadership.

Mr Gething, 50, attended Beaminster School from 1985 to 1992, and played for both Beaminster and Broadwindsor cricket clubs.

Mr Gething’s family has a long association with west Dorset schools, as his sister and four brothers attended Beaminster School.

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His father David was a popular local vet at Beaminster Practice Gething and Bowditch, which became Girling and Bowditch following David’s retirement.

Mr Gething was born in Zambia and moved to Wales as a boy when his father took a job as a vet.

However, when his father turned up with a black family, the job offer was withdrawn and the family instead moved to Dorset.