QUESTIONS were raised today over First Minster Vaughan Gething’s relationship with the press after declining to be interviewed by outlets including the Morning Star and Wales Online.

Having previously interviewed Mr Gething’s predecessor Mark Drakeford seven times, the Star requested an interview with the new First Minister before his election as Welsh Labour leader concluded in March. 

Civil servants in the First Minister’s press team took six weeks to respond, finally telling the Star to send the request to Welsh Labour.

After being told the bid was specifically to interview Mr Gething as First Minister and not leader of Welsh Labour, the same official declined without elaborating.

The paper has now written to Welsh government director of communications Toby Mason for an explanation.

In March, Will Hayward, Welsh affairs editor at Wales Online, reported that Mr Gething had refused an interview with the outlet, suggesting the First Minister was avoiding questions over a £200,000 donation to his leadership campaign by Dauson Environmental Group Ltd.

It has subsequently been revealed that company borrowed £400,000 from the Development Bank of Wales — a bank wholly owned by the Welsh government.