Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:49 pm on 4 October 2022.
I'd tread carefully on saying that's she's resigned and trying to use that in a political forum. I understand that she's resigned for personal reasons, which does happen, First Minister, and I'm not trying to say anything to the contrary about the integrity of any inquiry. I happen to believe that an independent inquiry here in Wales, but also on a UK level, would speed up the process to get the answers that the COVID-bereaved families require, rather than get it pushed into the long grass. Now, you could work positively with the families, with all the interested parties here in Wales, in allowing such an inquiry. But because you say 'no', we have to accept it? Well, on these benches, we won't accept it, because, ultimately, the scrutiny, the torch of scrutiny needs to be placed on the decisions that all the Ministers took, sitting around that bench. So, whilst you might decree that there is not going to be a Welsh COVID inquiry, I have to tell you that the weight of public opinion and the weight of professional opinion here in Wales wants to see that independent inquiry. I will not rest until we have that independent inquiry, despite what you might try to say to the contrary, First Minister.