Vaughan Gething has resigned from his position as first minister of Wales following a turbulent four months in the position.
It comes after Mr Gething was involved in a political row over his decision to sack Hannah Blythyn as a minister over the leak of a text message, and rows related to donations he took while running to be Welsh Labour leader.
This tension led to the collapse of a co-operation agreement between his party and Plaid Cymru, and Mr Gething losing a non-binding vote of no confidence in the Senedd.
In his statement, Mr Gething also made a dig at his critics, saying any allegations of wrongdoing against him were “pernicious, politically motivated and patently untrue”.
“I have this morning taken the difficult decision to begin the process of stepping down as leader of the Welsh Labour Party and, as a result, First Minister,” he said.
“Having been elected as leader of my party in March, I had hoped that over the summer a period of reflection, rebuilding and renewal could take place under my leadership.
“I recognise now that this is not possible.
“It has been the honour of my life to do this job even for a few short months.”
His statement also suggested that he felt he had been targeted in part for being Black, as he said: “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.”
He adds that he will set out a timetable for the election of new leader of the Welsh Labour party.
The 50-year-old was the first Black leader of a European country.
Mr Gething had lost a vote of confidence in the Senedd in June, but refused to step down. However, he was forced to after four ministers resigned from the Welsh government on Tuesday, all urging Gething to stand down.
Who else has resigned in the Welsh government?
Mick Antoniw, Julie James, Lesley Griffiths and Jeremy Miles all quit their cabinet positions on Tuesday, telling the Labour first minister they cannot get on with their jobs "without you standing down".
Miles, who narrowly missed out on becoming first minister in March, said the row over Mr Gething’s leadership has become a distraction, damaging the party.
“We cannot continue like this. It is essential that we begin to repair the damage immediately and I have reached the conclusion very regrettably that this cannot happen under your leadership,” the former economy secretary said in his letter.
“I can’t see any way forward for us which allows us to get on with [the] job we are elected to do, without you standing down.”
Meanwhile, former housing secretary James said there were “real mistakes” over campaign donations and raised concerns about the “seemingly never-ending series of related issues that have followed”.
Griffiths, the former social justice secretary, said she was saddened to resign after serving in government for the past 14 years.
She wrote: “I find it deeply distressing, from personal and professional perspectives, to see the negative impact all of this has had on relationships between long-standing colleagues and, in many cases, close friends.
Antoniw, who acted as counsel general, the Welsh Government’s chief legal adviser, said: “I feel it is necessary for me to give you advice that you need to receive no matter how painful.
“I must advise you that I do not believe you can continue as first minister.”
