Clwyd West MS Darren Millar has today called for the Welsh Health Minister “to be put on the subs bench” after he was caught breaking Welsh Government Covid-19 guidelines by eating chips on a park bench at the weekend.

Despite Welsh Government guidance clearly stating “going for a walk and then having a picnic or spending a prolonged period on a park bench, is not considered to be exercise and is not intended to be a reasonable excuse”, Health Minister Vaughan Gething MS was photographed in Cardiff Bay over the bank holiday weekend, sitting at a picnic table eating chips with his family. Following the incident, new guidance was issued by the Welsh Government on Monday enabling people to stop and eat while out taking their exercise.

Speaking in today’s virtual Welsh Parliament Plenary meeting, Darren challenged the First Minister over the gaffe and called for the Health Minister to be replaced.  

He said:

“It's very clear, from the guidance that prevailed here in Wales on Saturday that, going for a walk and having a picnic cannot be considered to be exercise and is not intended to be a reasonable excuse. You changed the guidance on Monday, and many people will think that that might be because of the fact that the Health Minister was photographed sitting on the park bench having a picnic with his family over the weekend.

“Now, it looks to the public that it's one rule for the Health Minister and another rule for them. So, don't you agree with me that Vaughan Gething has had his chips? And when are you going to remove him from the park bench and put him on the subs bench, where he belongs?”

In his response, the First Minister insisted that the Health Minister had done nothing wrong.

Darren added: “The First Minister’s response is as concerning as the Health Minister’s actions over the bank holiday. Neither seem to have any grasp as to what their own guidelines in Wales are. If these leading figures can’t get it right, how on earth are the people of Wales expected to?”