It's an honour to speak today on behalf of the Labour group, to pay tribute to the man who has led our party and our country for the past nine years. The challenges have at times been considerable. As I know you've previously said yourself, Carwyn, you took office in the wake of the global financial crash, constrained by the political commitment to austerity from Westminster, and the past few years have, of course, been dominated by Brexit. There have indeed been dark days, but throughout, Carwyn, you have provided principled and passionate leadership, a leadership that has stood up for Wales, that worked together to build a better Wales, and the achievements have been considerable—not least of these has been your success in leading Welsh Labour to two election wins.

Opinion polling consistently told us, Carwyn, that you were the most highly rated politician in Wales—an electoral asset to Welsh Labour. I personally experienced a little of this magic, and I fondly remember campaigning with you in Mountain Ash just before the 2016 election. The support that you provided to me as a first-time candidate was much appreciated, as, I hope, was the warm welcome that you received from local residents at the busy weekly market. A group of women we met at Abercynon library a little later on were similarly starstruck, but you found a way of engaging them and putting them at their ease—so much so that when I returned a few minutes later, they were happily giving you advice on how to dye your hair. [Laughter.] Then they moved on to complimenting you on your walking programmes and your cheerful evening broadcast, and the truth sank in. They did think that I had brought an equally popular weatherman for a visit.

But, regardless of that case of mistaken identity, your leadership in government has really made a difference in Wales. It’s made a difference to the additional people in work or with qualifications. It’s made a difference to the record numbers of NHS staff and the pay that they receive. It’s made a difference to the people accessing new treatments, not waiting so long for diagnostic tests or transfers of care, and simply surviving conditions like cancer.

As I mentioned during First Minister’s questions, I know that opportunities for children and young people have been important to you, and it’s clear that your Government has also made a difference here: targeted support for families who need it most; the most generous childcare offer in the UK; action to support students; retention of the EMA; improvements in examination results. Most visibly, Carwyn, as other speakers have commented, your commitment to the twenty-first century schools programme has ensured our children and young people are educated in modern facilities fit for purpose. Altogether, nearly £4 billion has been earmarked to this, and over 150 schools and colleges will have been built or refurbished by 2019. My constituency of Cynon valley has more than benefited from this. Over £100 million-worth of investment means that pupils of one brand-new secondary and seven brand-new primary schools are now taught in state-of-the-art facilities. And these improvements also extend to the further education sector. Another memory that I will treasure is accompanying you as you cut the sod for the new £22 million Aberdare Coleg y Cymoedd campus in snow and freezing hail. And while many other leaders might have made a very hasty exit in such awful conditions, you decided to climb on board the bus that had been brought in for the workers and deliver an impromptu speech there to them. I think that's a measure of the man.

Carwyn, you also made a difference through your role in helping to deliver a positive result in the 2011 campaign on law-making powers and in the way that your Government has used these powers since. Just as important have been the taxation powers this Assembly has been granted to deliver the first modern, made-in-Wales taxes.

I know your resignation here today will not mark the end of your contribution to public life in Wales. I also know that Lisa, Seren, Ruairi and Caron will cherish being able to spend more time with you.

As someone who has both studied and taught the history of Wales, I’m confident that your place in the history books of Wales will be a prominent one. So, diolch yn fawr, Carwyn, and all the very best for the future. [Applause.]