By Tony O’Reilly-
The First Minister of Wales, Vaughan Gething, finds himself embroiled in serious political controversy following allegations he misled the Covid Inquiry when he denied deleting WhatsApp messages.
All nations of the UK have pursued an inquiry into how the pandemic was handled by their respective governments, in a respectable quest for transparency and accountability.
This followed multiple and various allegations of exploitation, negligence, and mismanagement of both government officials, and leaders of various institutions by a number of individuals, particularly the family of the bereaved.
Module 1 opened on 21 July 2022, with a view to examining the preparedness for the pandemic, assessing its planning and readiness for that eventuality.
This module will touch on the whole system of civil emergencies including resourcing, risk management and pandemic readiness
The latest revelation emerged after leaked messages appeared to contradict Gething’s earlier claims that he did not intentionally delete WhatsApp communications during his tenure as health minister.
Gething had previously asserted that the lost messages were deleted by the Senedd’s IT team during a security overhaul, attributing the incident to a “real embarrassment.”
A leaked message posted in a ministerial group chat on August 17, 2020, seemingly implicates Gething in the deletion of messages, with the explicit intention to prevent their disclosure under Freedom of Information requests.
This development has cast doubt on Gething’s testimony before the COVID-19 inquiry, prompting calls for further investigation into the matter.
The UK Covid-19 Inquiry has confirmed awareness of the leaked message and is deliberating on whether Gething will be required to provide additional evidence.
The potential implications are significant because lying at a statutory public inquiry constitutes the criminal offense of perjury, carrying penalties of up to seven years’ imprisonment upon conviction.
Gething’s response to the allegations will be closely scrutinized, particularly as opposition leaders demand his recall to the inquiry for further questioning.
Both Conservative and Plaid Cymru leaders have voiced concerns over the integrity of decision-making processes within the Welsh government, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in light of the pandemic’s impact on lives and businesses.
The controversy surrounding Gething extends beyond the COVID-19 inquiry, with sustained pressure mounting in recent weeks over donations received during his leadership campaign.
Questions regarding potential conflicts of interest and breaches of the ministerial code have further fuelled calls for independent investigations into Gething’s conduct.