Unclear how Vaughan Gething could pass budget

Each financial year the Welsh government has to pass a budget in the Senedd outlining its spending plans for Welsh public services, including the NHS, schools and councils.

The process and votes surrounding it generally takes place in the winter.

Labour has never had a majority in the Senedd since the advent of devolution. Despite always leading the government, either in coalition or alone, the party has always had to strike deals with opposition members.

Currently it has 30 members of the Senedd – exactly half of the parliament’s total of 60 seats.

The Welsh Labour government needs at least one opposition member to abstain on a budget to get its plans through.

The government would have until the end of the financial year to get its plans passed.

Should the efforts of ministers to strike a deal fail, the budget for this year would be effectively rolled over into the next, but with a cut.

Vaughan Gething lost a vote of no confidence earlier this month after two of his backbenchers were away sick.

It followed a months-long row over donations to his leadership campaign, from a company owned by a man previously convicted of environmental offences.

Despite calls to resign he has refused to do so, and says he has broken no donation rules.

A supporter has said Mr Gething would have won the vote had the absent Senedd members been present.