A CANDIDATE to become the next leader of the Welsh Government has been accused of snubbing a group of disabled residents in Flintshire.

Vaughan Gething, Cabinet Secretary for Health, was expected to pay a visit to Flintshire Council’s learning disability day centre in Queensferry, which was said to have been organised at his office’s request.

However, staff and several people with multiple and profound disabilities were left disappointed when one of three politicians bidding to replace Carwyn Jones as Welsh Labour leader failed to turn up.

The Labour deputy leader of Flintshire Council has slammed his fellow party member after he is understood to have attended a campaign meeting with the GMB Union in Flint instead.

Connah's Quay councillor Bernie Attridge said: “I’m very disappointed that a cabinet secretary has snubbed us here in Flintshire.

“He seems to be more interested in his campaign.

“That’s why he’s gone straight to meet GMB in Flint and not to come to see some of the most vulnerable, disabled residents we have in Flintshire.”

Mr Gething has since posted on Twitter to apologise and offered to rearrange the visit.

But Cllr Attridge revealed that the Cardiff South AM would not be receiving his vote in the leadership battle as a result of the decision.

He said: “At the end of the day there was a chap there who was very excited he was going to have his picture with the health minister.

“Then you’ve got to tell him ‘Sorry, there’s been a bit of a mix-up’ and it’s just not nice.

“He was still in the running up until this afternoon, but I certainly won’t be giving him my vote now.”

The Glanrafon centre, which caters for about 70 people with learning disabilities, currently sits opposite Deeside Leisure Centre but is soon to be replaced.

Flintshire Council has invested £4 million on a state-of-the-art building on the grounds of the former John Summers High School and is expected to open in the spring.

In response to Cllr Attridge’s comments, Mr Gething tweeted: “Simple mistake made with the diary meant we didn’t get to meet with Bernie Attridge and his team today.

“Really sorry for the confusion and very happy to arrange to visit again.”

Cllr Attridge has also been an outspoken critic of outgoing First Minister Carwyn Jones following the death of his close friend Carl Sargeant.

He once said Mr Jones, who sacked the former AM for Alyn and Deeside just days before he was found dead at his home last year, made him feel sick.

The other candidates vying to replace the Welsh Labour leader are Mark Drakeford, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, and Eluned Morgan, AM for Mid and West Wales, with the winner due to be announced in December.