‘You can’t deny the historic nature of it’: Labour’s Vaughan Gething aims to become first black Welsh leader

Economy minister says he is best candidate for top job and Senedd needs to do more to look like our country'

Vaughan Gething knows that whenever he discusses his skin colour, he is accused of playing the race card and opens himself up to a torrent of abuse on social media. Nevertheless, he does not fight shy of discussing the significance of what he will achieve if he becomes the leader of Welsh Labour, and thus the first minister of Wales, next month.

You can't deny the historic nature of it. I think I should win because I'm the best candidate. I've got loads of experience. I've got values rooted in our movement. I was a trade union shop steward, Wales TUC president, had 10 years as an employment lawyer and I have a vision for the future. But if I win, the fact that I'll be the first black leader of any European nation is a matter of historic significance."