2. Statement by the First Minister: Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 11:25 am on 10 June 2020.

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Photo of Mark Reckless Mark Reckless Conservative 11:25, 10 June 2020

First Minister, we no longer have First Minister's questions and, instead, I respond once again remotely to your statement. The Westminster Parliament has returned, but elected Members aren't allowed to attend the Senedd, yet on Saturday a mass of protesters were allowed to demonstrate at the Senedd, in sight of where your health Minister had his takeaway family picnic. I asked you then if you'd read Animal Farm, as it seemed some were more equal than others. This week, as others were fined for travelling a bit more than 5 miles to see family, at least one Labour Member joined the protest in Bute park. Why should others obey the lockdown if Labour Members who impose it break it? Mandy Jones from my group rightly observed, if the second protest goes ahead,

'This is a slap in the face to those who have sacrificed so much in order to defeat the virus.'

When asked your view on the protests, did you take the opportunity to condemn their illegality? Did you warn protestors they could be fined or say you would support the police in issuing such fines? No. You chose instead to condemn the elected Member who sought to uphold the law. Of course, the mass protest—organised, incidentally, Llywydd, by a group that wants to dismantle capitalism and defund the police—is a slap in the face to many who have sacrificed so much in order to defeat the virus. 

First Minister, will you apologise to Mandy Jones for your disgraceful slur in attempting to link that turn of phrase to a police officer seemingly killing a man by kneeling on his neck for eight and a half minutes? Why won't you enforce your rules without fear or favour? Is it because you support the protests, or is it because you are afraid that you will be 'cancelled' by the protestors, as Jenny Rathbone and Ali Ahmed were on Saturday when they respectively spoke up for other minority groups and said, 'All lives matter'? First Minister as you won't enforce your laws fairly, isn't it time we repealed them?