Sacked Welsh Government minister accused of leak breaks silence with Senedd statement

The former Welsh Government minister sacked by Vaughan Gething has broken her silence by delivering an emotional statement in the Senedd. Hannah Blythyn was sacked as minister for social partnership by Wales' First Minister Vaughan Gething who alleged she had leaked information to the media.

Until now the Labour Delyn MS had maintained silence except to issue a brief statement on X. On Tuesday she returned to the Senedd chamber for the first time. She denied she had ever leaked or briefed against any of her colleagues and said she had raised formal concerns about the process that led to her removal from government. "I have formally raised concerns about the process in which I was removed from government including not being shown any alleged evidence before being sacked, not being made aware I was ever investigation, or I was ever advised or told I may have broken the ministerial code," she told Senedd colleagues, watched on by her family in the public gallery.

She made a statement thanking people who sent messages to her during her absence. She said she had not been able to reply to them all but they had "meant a lot and made a difference".

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"This is not a statement that is easy for me to make or one I take lightly. There were times in the not too distant past where I was not sure I would, or could, speak in this siambr again. I do so today because I know my removal from government has been a focus of discussion while I have not been here. I also feel a sense of responsibility to those closest to me and my many constituents who have demonstrated great patience, confidence, and understanding in me. Llywydd, I will start by just briefly addressing the circumstances around my leaving government.

"I know I can look all my colleagues who sit around me on these benches in the eye and say I have never leaked or briefed the media about any of you. In fact I can say that about anyone in the siambr. While I will not share the detail I will share that I have formally raised concerns about the process in which I was removed from government including not being shown any alleged evidence before being sacked, not being made aware that I was ever under investigation, and at no point was it evidenced or I was ever advised I may have broken the ministerial code.

“I absolutely recognise and respect that it’s within the gift of any First Minister to appoint and remove members of their government. I understand the nature of politics and absolutely accept that. I raise concerns not out of self-interest but because I fundamentally believe in devolution and public service. I also have very real concerns that lessons have not been learned from the past. Proper process not only needs to be in place and follow the dignity and respect of individuals involved but also to uphold the integrity of the civil service and the office of the First Minister.

“I want to take a moment to reflect that’s something very personal and difficult for me to say for the sake of how we do politics. I know there’s been speculation about my circumstances and whether I have been well enough to work. This has ranged from what is tantamount to misinformation and what was put down to misunderstanding. It should not be surprising that what happened has been hugely detrimental to me on a personal level and led to acute anxiety and stress. I have never been signed off work before and struggled with this in itself before but there was a time that the thought of putting my camera on to vote and seeing you all literally took my breath away.

"I share this now not in search of sympathy, I don't want people's sympathy, but because my recent experience has brought home that while we talk the talk on mental health there’s still more to do to improve our understanding and the impact it has on individuals and their ability to do things we would ordinarily take for granted. Sadly I think we get so caught up in the politics we don’t always think about the person. I recently listened to a podcast called Broken Politicians, Broken Politics. I am not broken but I know now more than I did before that I am breakable and we all are. I don't believe politics is broken but it could certainly be better. We’ve talked about often in this place of a kinder politics but we can’t have a kinder politics without kinder people.

"We won't get better politics without being better people. Our own conduct and character is key to the public having trust in those who serve them and believe politics can be a force for good.

"Llywydd, it has been a privilege to serve in my country’s government particularly under the leadership of Mark Drakeford. The trade union movement not only shaped my values but it helped give me my voice and I am proud to have taken through the most progressive trade union legislation of the devolution era. And the younger me, who struggled with her sexuality, would never ever have believed I would one day spearhead the plan to make Wales the most LGBTQ+-friendly nation in Europe.

"I am truly grateful for that opportunity and it will always be an absolute privilege to serve the community that shaped me as a member of the Senedd. I am only who I am and where I am because of where I come from. And in spite of the challenges and difficulties, perhaps because of them, I do feel a renewed sense of commitment to the politics of public service and a real determination to contribute to our devolved democracy, my community, and our country." While many of her colleagues clapped the First Minister did not.

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