Mark Drakeford has attacked Boris Johnson and the UK Government for failing to introduce measures to control the omicron wave.
Speaking at the welsh Government press conference where he announced new Covid restrictions in Wales including limits on hospitality, events and meeting people inside homes, the First Minister slammed the UK Government for their "paralysis" and that "sensible voices" are not being listened to.
When asked why the UK Government were making different decisions from the same evidence base Mr Drakeford said: "I believe the UK Government sees all the data that we see, I believe they get all the advice that we get about the need to act, and to act urgently in the light of the omicron wave that is coming our way, and it's already there, in very, very significant numbers in London and in other parts of England.
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"I think that the UK Government is in a state of paralysis about all of this. We see the reports of infighting within the cabinet. There are, as I would say, it's sensible voices, urging the Prime Minister to act to protect the NHS and to protect people's lives as he has in previous waves. And there are others who I simply think take a different view of the balance of risk and are prepared to allow those risks to run. I don't believe it's because they don't see the data. They see the data, but they're not prepared to act on it."
When pressed on whether people in Wales should feel hard done by that they will be living under further restrictions the First Minister added: "I think people in Wales will feel, but everything is being done on their behalf, to keep them safe, at a very challenging time.
"I think they will recognise that they have a government that is capable of making these decisions, even when the decisions are difficult, and as I say, when they are sometimes not popular here in Wales, we are in a position where when we see the evidence, or are told about the actions we can take to protect people, we will take them.
"I think there's a real contrast with a paralysis of the UK Government simply unable to act. I heard the Prime Minister earlier this week, in an interview say that the 'position had never been more urgent', and asked what he was going to do about it said that he was doing nothing.
"Well, that would not be acceptable to me, leading the Welsh Government.
"When we see a situation that is urgent, and it is, and we are told there are actions that we need to take to protect people's lives and livelihoods, then we will take those actions. And I think that people in worlds will appreciate that, despite the difficulties that I understand it creates for people and for businesses."
