Labour Am says Carwyn could resign this year
A WELSH Labour backbencher has become the first AM from her party to openly speculate that Carwyn Jones may stand down as First Minister this year.
Cardiff Central AM Jenny Rathbone was asked by veteran political commentator Gareth Hughes in a podcast whether Wales would have a new First Minister at some point this year.
She responded: “There are certainly plenty of runners and riders already declaring their hand. So it’s certainly on the agenda.”
Mr Jones is facing two inquiries linked to the death of Carl Sargeant last November.
The former AM for Alyn and Deeside, who was succeeded by his son Jack in Tuesday’s by-election, is believed to have taken his own life four days after being removed from his post as Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children following unspecified allegations of sexual harassment that were made against him. He strongly denied any wrongdoing.
Paul Bowen QC will lead an inquiry into the way Mr Sargeant was treated at the time of his sacking.
Meanwhile, Irish lawyer James Hamilton is leading an inquiry into whether Mr Jones misled the Senedd when he said no-one had complained about bullying on the fifth Ministerial floor of the Assembly in 2014.
Mr Sargeant is known to have told others that he was being bullied, and claimed he had told the First Minister, whom he said did not respond.
Three further current and former Ministers – Alun Davies, Lesley Griffiths and Leighton Andrews – have said they told Mr Jones of their concerns about an individual working on the fifth floor, while former special adviser Steve Jones has described an atmosphere of toxic bullying on the floor.
If Mr Jones is criticised in the inquiry reports, it is assumed by many that he would have to resign.
Last month Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford confirmed that people had been urging him to stand for the Welsh Labour leadership when Carwyn Jones stands down.
He told us he would be willing to consider it if circumstances made it important for someone “to step in and help out”.
Other Labour AMs tipped as possible successors to Mr Jones include Vaughan Gething, Ken Skates, Eluned Morgan and Huw Irranca-Davies.
On the podcast, Ms Rathbone was asked if she had seen signs of bullying in the Welsh Government during the period when she chaired a committee overseeing the use of EU funds in Wales in 2015.
She replied: “Not in carrying out my duties on that committee, no, but there certainly were people who didn’t take kindly to anybody challenging their position. They were mini-dictators. So yes, I wouldn’t be surprised at the remarks made by others that there was bullying going on. I’m afraid to say that I think that is a definite possibility, but we obviously await the outcome of the inquiry.”
A spokesman for the First Minister said: “Carwyn is getting on with the job and delivering for Wales. Today he was at Swansea University talking about how we can secure the future of steel production in Wales and he’ll be in Ireland next week to discuss the economic implications of Brexit.”