Vaughan Gething wants new start after no confidence vote loss

Mr Gething said “there is a choice now whether the country can function, whether government can function, whether the Senedd can function”.

“Are we prepared to stop the whole institution from working based on the immediate politics of the general election? I don’t think that’s the right thing to do.”

Tom Giffard, Conservative MS for South Wales West , accused Mr Gething of “ignoring” what the Senedd, and the Welsh people, were saying to him, describing it as “very arrogant”.

He said the Labour group was “weak and divided”, adding Mr Gething could not control it, likely leading to legislation not being passed.

“There’s two ways we can break the impasse. Either Vaughan Gething has to resign, or we should call a Senedd election,” he said.

But Mr Giffard said the Conservatives would not rule out working with Mr Gething in the future, particularly when it came to passing budgets.

“I think it’s unlikely that we would work – even find agreement quite frankly – on most issues,” he said, adding the Conservatives were “always happy to work for the betterment of the people of Wales”.

Plaid Cymru’s Mabon ap Gwynfor, MS for Dwyfor Meirionydd, accused Mr Gething of acting with “contempt” towards the Senedd.

“The Senedd elects the first minister, and in this instance the first minister has lost the confidence of the Senedd, therefore he should respect that.

“His refusal to step down shows contempt to the Senedd and to the people of Wales and he should consider his position,” he said.

But Mr ap Gwynfor said Plaid Cymru would also consider cooperating with Labour “on a case-by-case basis” for passing budgets and legislation.