WELSH First Minister Vaughan Gething’s political finances were once again in the spotlight today after Welsh nationalist leader Rhun ap Iorwerth wrote to Wales’ top civil servant calling for an investigation into a £200,000 donation.

Plaid Cymru’s move came after allegations surfaced that the environmental company at the heart of the scandal — Dauson Environmental Group Ltd — had borrowed £400,000 from the Welsh government-owed Development Bank of Wales (DBW).

Also at the weekend, Welsh economy minister Jeremy Miles told the BBC he “would not have accepted” the £200,000 donation if it had been offered to him during his rival bid to become first minister.

Mr Miles’s failure to support the new First Minister helped reignite the row with Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth, who wrote to the Welsh government’s permanent secretary, Andrew Goodall, calling for an independent investigation.

Mr ap Iorwereth said: “You will be aware of reports over the weekend that Dauson Environmental Group Ltd, who donated £200,000 to Vaughan Gething’s campaign, are in debt to DBW – a bank wholly owned by the Welsh government.

“It is clear that this matter has now gone beyond donations to Senedd members. It strikes at the heart of government operations, and the relationship between ministers and private individuals.

“I therefore ask that you commission a wholly independent external investigation into this matter, and for its findings to be made public in their entirety.”

The Welsh government confirmed it had received the letter and a spokesperson said it would be replied to in due course.

The latest developments came after the online news site Nation.Cymru reported at the weekend that the money lent to Atlantic Recycling and Dauson Environmental Group by the DBW was during Mr Gething’s tenure as economy minister, with responsibility for the bank.

The row over the donations from a company director twice convicted of environmental offences has overshadowed Mr Gething’s election and dominated both his first press conference and first minister’s questions last week.

The latest revelations are also expected to lead to further questions to the First Minister later tomorrow in the Senedd.

Labour has announced a review into its processes following the row about the donation.

Mr Gething has said that any money left over from the donation will be paid into Welsh Labour coffers.