Vaughan Gething could face a vote of no confidence next week, in a huge blow for the First Minister.
It is understood that the Welsh Conservatives will table a motion with a deadline of 6pm on May 29. If successful the vote will take place on June 5.
This comes following months of turmoil around controversial donations during the First Minister’s election campaign.
The donation row created a turbulent start to Gething’s premiership with Labour Party politicians across Cardiff Bay and Westminster revealing their unease.
A vote could cause a fresh headache for Sir Keir Starmer, as Labour is on track to pick up 29 out of 32 seats in Wales at the general election. But the no confidence vote could derail Labour’s lead in Wales.
£200,000 was given to Mr Gething's leadership campaign by a company owned by a man twice convicted of environmental offences. £31,600 was left over from the sum, but earlier this month it was revealed UK Labour will not receive the surplus following concerns over the donation.
But despite UK Labour distancing itself from the money, when questioned in March Starmer publicly backed Gething.
“The First Minister has explained his actions, he has not broken any rules and that's the end of the matter.”
Recent polling done by Redfield & Wilton Strategies showed 70 per cent of Welsh voters think Gething should return the donation, up from 65 per cent in late April.
Pressure has been mounting ever since Gething took office. Plaid Cymru terminated its cooperation deal with Labour over the turmoil earlier this month.
The Party Leader, Rhun Ap Iorwerth said at the time he questioned Gething’s decision not to pay back the £200,000 and was worried by the circumstances of which he sacked his minister Hannah Blythyn following a row over a leaked text.
Gething also faced criticism from his own back benchers surrounding the £200,000 donation.
Labour MS, Lee Waters has called on his boss Vaughan Gething to return the money. He said he was “deeply uncomfortable with the way I'm now in effect being expected to endorse something I just think is wrong”.
Labour holds half of the seats in the Senedd, in order for the motion to be successful one Labour MS would need to back it or abstain. Labour’s Lee Waters, Alun Davies and former leadership rival Jeremy Miles have all condemned Gething on the record over the donation.
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However, with Labour this close to power in Westminster during an election period, it will be very unlikely that Labour MS’ will back the Welsh Conservatives’ calls to oust the Welsh First Minister.
If the motion is tabled, the vote will take place on Wednesday the 5th June.
The First Minister has been approached for comment.
