Llywydd, when we first went into lockdown in March and passed emergency legislation against so many of our natural, democratic instincts, I said then—and I'll say it again now—I didn't come to this place to make decisions like that, but, in times of crisis, the most difficult decisions have to be made. That's our duty. That means that we can't hide or shirk those difficult decisions. We can't ride populist bandwagons that might give us some short-term popularity with people who will not listen to or be guided by the science. We have to take tough decisions for the greater good—that is the right and proper thing to do. That is what we were elected to do, and that is what our Welsh Government has been doing.

Our First Minister has shown a calm, measured and intelligent approach to the handling of this crisis. He's on top of the issues, he understands the impact on us all, and he's shown everyone who is prepared to listen the value of devolution and good governance. Compare that, if you will, with the bumbling, Trumpist lack of detail and grasp of a crisis shown by the UK Prime Minister, and I thank goodness that we are in Wales.

So now, having been through the most difficult period that any of us can remember, at this time I ask myself: what is the most important? And the answer has to be supporting those actions that help reduce the rates of infection and help to save lives in my constituency and across Wales, and to do what we can to ensure that our NHS can not only manage the rise in COVID cases, but can also maintain the increase in non-COVID activity that has been brought back in recent months.

Having read the background advice to this decision, I will support the Government today in its decision to introduce a firebreak. It's based on science, it's based on medical advice, it's based on information from the technical advisory cell. It's not running away from what has to be done—it is doing the right thing. And the Government's populist opponents in the ranks of the Welsh Tories, UKIP, Brexit, Abolish the Welsh Assembly, independent reform group, or any other incarnation of the flat-earthers and COVID deniers, should reflect on that.

But Ministers will also know—and I've been very clear in my view—that any health restrictions have to be accompanied by economic support. So, I'm very pleased to see that measures have been announced that will help to support those businesses that will be required to close again for the next two weeks. Welsh Government is doing all it can here within the resources available to it. They're taking responsibility for their decisions, but we also need to see the UK Government and the Chancellor do the same. They too carry a huge responsibility, and have to step up with additional support for those employees who find themselves on short-term lay-offs or redundancy as we try to get control of the spread of this virus. 

In truth, a summer of half-priced pizzas was not the best response to this pandemic. Continuing economic support is the only bridge we can provide between now and an unknown future. But it is clear that the economic model of recent decades faces a profound challenge in the face of this pandemic. The public health crisis cannot drift into a long economic and social crisis, and I believe that that is now the real dividing line of contemporary politics. As Members of the Senedd, we must act to protect the health of our constituents, but I expect our political system to protect the social and economic interests of our communities too. We may be struggling to deal with this virus, but we can give people the support they need.