Family’s fury at Labour over death of ‘sex claim’ politician
THE grieving family of a politician, who took his own life following “sex” claims, has blasted the Labour party for depriving him of “natural justice”.
Last Friday the Welsh Communities and Children Secretary Carl Sargeant, 49, was suspended by his party over improper “personal conduct” claims by three women.
It has now emerged that the police were not alerted and the former Chief Whip and married father of two was not informed of the details of the allegations.
Mr Sargeant’s family has released letters exchanged by their solicitor and Labour highlighting their concerns about his mental state just before he died.
The heartbroken family is also furious that Labour left him in the dark over the seriousness of the women’s accusations.
On the morning of his death Mr Sargeant “begged” party officials to tell him what he was being accused of doing. Yesterday a family spokesman said: “Carl maintained his innocence and categorically denied any wrongdoing. The distress of not being able to defend himself properly against these unspecified allegations meant he was not afforded common courtesy, decency or natural justice.”
It heaps pressure on First Minister and Welsh Labour leader Carwyn Jones, with colleagues of popular Mr Sargeant left disgusted by his treatment. Last night, friends and colleagues said he had been “thrown to the wolves”.
An angry Welsh Labour Party insider said: “Carl would have spent his last days racking his brain in torment, wondering if he had touched a woman inadvertently or hugged them. If Carl was sacked on the basis of something that was untrue, then Carwyn Jones’s future is on the line.”