Vaughan Gething quits as first minister of Wales in chaos for Starmer’s Labour – live

The fight against inflation in the UK could see it fall below the Bank of England’s target level for the first time in more than three years, economists have predicted.

New data released from the Office for National Statistics on Wednesday will reveal how fast prices were rising across the UK last month.

It comes after inflation returned to the Bank’s 2% target in May, after nearly three years of it being above target largely as a result of soaring food and energy prices.

But analysts think the rate of Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation might have undershot the target in June, with it coming in at 1.9% for the month, according to a consensus compiled by Pantheon Macroeconomics.

The last time it was below target was in April 2021, when CPI was recorded at 1.5%.

“After nearly three years of running above target, in May, UK CPI inflation returned to the Bank of England’s target of 2%. This is indisputably good news,” said Sandra Horsfield, an economist for Investec.

“Yet jubilation about this must be tempered: the ‘cost-of-living crisis’ is far from over for some.”

“The new Labour government will need to factor ongoing cost-of-living pressures in for some time yet, even if CPI inflation stays broadly on target,” she said.

Meanwhile, experts said it will be the finer details of the inflation data that could come under greater scrutiny.

Rhun ap Iorwerth, the leader of Plaid Cymru, has said the outgoing First Minister was “on borrowed time”.

He said: “You must remember that the four ministers that called on him to go voted to show their confidence in him not that many weeks ago.

“It was hardly decisive action by them but today had to come.”

Mr ap Iorwerth said the people of Wales did not want a “revolving door” of Labour First Ministers. He said: “They should be asked what king of people they want and Plaid Cymru is ready for that election. We’ve had a UK general election, we now need to focus on what kind of government we want for Wales.

“I’ve no doubt that this is a Labour government, that’s been in government for 25 years now, that is losing the confidence of the people of Wales.”

Mr ap Iorwerth insisted he was not someone with “a massive appetite for lots of elections”, following the Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies saying if a snap election was held now another one would need to be carried out in 2026.

He added: “All I’m seeing is the chaos that we had because of the actions of Vaughan Gething over the last three months and how slow Labour were to take that step to get rid of him.”

Sir Keir Starmer has made it clear that wealth creation and economic growth will be his overriding priorities when Labour’s first programme for government since November 2009 is unveiled in parliament.

In a nod to the promises made by supporters of Brexit, the prime minister has promised to “take back control” of the country and “lay the foundations of the real change” it says people are desperate to see.

When King Charles reads out the speech in the Lords for the state opening of parliament at 1pm on Wednesday, the moment will mark the beginning of a major reset for the country.

Sir Keir Starmer said Gareth Southgate had brought “hope and belief” back to England and praised the way the manager had spoken out on social issues.

The Prime Minister said: “Gareth’s time as England manager will be remembered for bringing back the hope and belief the country had been crying out for for so long.

“He and his teams have given us so much. No-one will forget the run to the World Cup semi-final in 2018 or making our first two finals of the Euros.

“The wins over Germany and Denmark at Wembley in 2021 were utterly joyous, coming just as crowds were allowed back in after the dark days of Covid.

“Gareth also brought a deeper understanding of what the job means and represents. During turbulent times, he has been a thoughtful spokesperson on events far beyond football.

“He has been a mentor to our brilliant young talent. And at every step of the way, he has shouldered the dreams of the country with dignity and honour.

“I join with everyone today in saying thank you to both Gareth and his team for all they have achieved and for laying the foundations for future success.”

Former prime minister Boris Johnson has claimed that Donald Trump “will be strong and decisive” in his support of Ukraine and in “defending democracy”.

The Conservative ex-premier was in Washington this week to attend the Republican National Conference in Milwaukee, where Mr Trump was named the party’s official candidate in the upcoming US presidential elections.

Vaughan Gething said there had to be a place in politics for people “who look like me”, after quitting as Welsh first minister.

Mr Gething, the first black leader of a European nation, announced he was stepping down after four months in the role following a series of controversies.

But Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said Mr Gething could take “enormous pride” in acting as a role model for “a generation of young people”.

Mr Gething was born in Zambia in 1974, where his father, a Welsh vet from Ogmore-by-Sea in Glamorgan, met his mother, a chicken farmer.

In a statement announcing his resignation, Mr Gething said: “I have always pursued my political career to serve Wales.

“And being able to show underrepresented communities that there is a place for them, for us, is an honour and privilege that will never diminish.”

He added: “To those in Wales who look like me – many of whom I know feel personally bruised and worried by this moment – I know that our country can be better. I know that cannot happen without us.

“There will – and there must be – a government that looks like the country it serves.”

The Prime Minister said: “Vaughan should take enormous pride in being the first black leader of any country in Europe.

“That achievement will have broadened the ambitions and raised the gaze of a generation of young people in Wales and beyond.”

Donald Trump’s decision to pick his critic-turned-champion JD Vance as his vice-presidential nominee should raise alarm bells in Westminster.

With values and objectives now at odds, the special relationship faces a rocky future, writes Sean O’Grady: