Labour AM’s concerns over handling of Carl Sargeant allegations
A LABOUR AM has expressed concern that unspecified allegations relating to former Communities Secretary Carl Sargeant were not referred by First Minister Carwyn Jones to the Civil Service.
Instead, after a brief inquiry by a Welsh Government special adviser, complaints made by unnamed women were referred to Welsh Labour.
Mr Jones spoke to Mr Sargeant last Friday morning and they agreed that Mr Sargeant should step down from his Cabinet post immediately. Later that day Mr Jones completed a Cabinet reshuffle.
Welsh Labour continues to provide no details about the investigation, and says it will not do so.
Meanwhile it is understood that Mr Sargeant, who represents Alyn & Deeside, has still not been given details of the allegations against him.
A Labour AM, who did not wish to be identified, told us: “It is quite appalling that Carl Sargeant has not been told what the allegations against him are.
“It also seems wrong that a special adviser was asked to carry out an initial inquiry. A special adviser is not equipped to carry out inquiries of that kind. It should have been handed straight to the Civil Service for investigation under the Ministerial Code.”
Another Labour source pointed out that Theresa May’s deputy, First Secretary of State Damian Green, was being investigated by Sue Gray, Whitehall’s head of propriety and ethics.
The source said: “That’s what should have happened in the case of Carl Sargeant. His was a Crown appointment, like Damian Green, who has kept his job pending the inquiry.”
Mr Jones told ITV Cymru Wales he’d had no choice but to refer allegations relating to Mr Sargeant’s personal conduct to the Labour Party.
Speaking to the broadcaster’s political editor Adrian Masters, the First Minister said it was important there was an open investigation into the allegations.
Mr Jones said he became aware of the accusations against Mr Sargeant on Monday last week and, as a result, his office spoke to the women involved. He then decided that he had to refer the matter to the party.
The police had not been involved and it was a matter for the General Secretary of Welsh Labour to put in place the structure of the investigation. There is no indication of how long the inquiry may last.