Pressure mounts on Carwyn over ‘toxic bullying at Senedd’
PRESSURE is intensifying on Carwyn Jones over allegations of “toxic bullying” on the Ministerial floor of the National Assembly as Plaid Cymru joined the Conservatives in raising concerns about apparently contradictory statements made by the First Minister.
Two former senior close associates of Mr Jones have alleged that Carl Sargeant – who apparently took his own life last week after unspecified sexual harassment allegations prompted his sacking from the Cabinet – was a victim of the bullying.
In 2014 Mr Jones denied there had been any investigation into the bullying, while on Tuesday he appeared to confirm that an inquiry had taken place.
Meanwhile, party leaders and other senior figures at the Assembly yesterday pledged to introduce a new “Respect and Dignity” policy.
CARWYN JONES is under mounting pressure as he again refused to explain contradictory statements he has made about “toxic bullying” on the Ministerial floor at the Senedd.
Last night Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood followed Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies in seeking an explanation for what appears to be a serious discrepancy.
Two of the First Minister’s former closest associates have made public statements alleging that bullying was rife – and that Carl Sargeant, who last week took his own life four days after being removed from his post as Cabinet Member for Communities and Children because of unspecified sexual harassment allegations, was himself a victim of bullying.
Former Public Services Minister Leighton Andrews, who managed Mr Jones’ successful Welsh Labour leadership campaign in 2009, wrote a blog post entitled The Persistent Personal Undermining of Carl Sargeant in which he stated: “For too much of the 201116 Assembly, the atmosphere on the Fifth Floor, the Ministerial Floor in Tŷ Hywel, was toxic: minor bullying, mind-games, powergames, favouritism, inconsistency of treatment to different ministers, deliberate personal undermining on occasion.
“The undermining was of ministers, deputy ministers and special advisers. Some of this undermining was shared as gossip with people outside the government: I know this from comments made to me by a prominent outsider close to government who always likes to affect an awareness of what is really happening ‘on the Fifth Floor’.”
“Carl was unquestionably the target of some of this behaviour. The relentless dripdrip of disinformation – and worse – had a strain on his and others’ mental health. The First Minister was made aware of this by several ministers, including myself. Nothing was done.”
Mr Andrews said he personally made a complaint in 2014 but nothing was done: “I am not going to name names today. But I made a complaint to the First Minister about one aspect of this, of which I had direct evidence, in the autumn of 2014.
“An informal investigation was undertaken. I then asked for it to be made formal. I was told it would be. I was never shown the outcome. There was no due process.”
He adds: “After some weeks, Carl and I talked about this, and came to the conclusion that nothing would be done, and we should just get on with our jobs.”
Steve Jones, who worked as Carwyn Jones’ media special adviser for five years in government, before which he ran the media side of his Welsh Labour leadership campaign, issued a statement saying: “[The] behaviour of some at the top of the Welsh Government was like nothing I’d ever seen before. It was pure poison. Ministers were undermined by senior advisers playing power games and seeking to exert unreasonable control over Government and the First Minister himself.
“Certain Ministers who were seen as a threat to these advisers, were frequently the subject of malicious rumours and concerted smear campaigns. Those Ministers including Carl, would have their diaries unreasonably monitored and questioned, their policy proposals shelved and direct access to the First Minister blocked. It went way beyond any ‘office politics’ or personality clashes.
“It was clear that all this was getting Carl down. I told Carwyn that Carl was becoming increasingly unhappy. I suggested to him on more than one occasion that he should simply go for a pint with Carl one night – to talk about things and get back to the kind of relationship they enjoyed before and during Carwyn’s leadership campaign.
“I don’t know if they ever shared that pint.
“In any case, it became increasingly obvious that Carwyn was either unwilling or unable to address the culture that existed within his office. He allowed it to develop, fester and grow.”
In 2014, in response to an Assembly Question asked by Tory AM Darren Millar, the First Minister denied that any bullying allegations had been made in relation to his private office.
But on Tuesday, when questioned by Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies, Mr Jones said: “What I can say is that any issues that were brought to my attention at that time were dealt with, and that’s what the answer was given and that answer is correct, back in 2014.”
Yesterday, during an Assembly plenary session, Mr Jones refused for the second day in succession to elaborate on his response.
Mr Davies later issued a statement which said: “In my 10 years as an Assembly Member, I have never witnessed such contempt and arrogance for our institution and the First Minister’s behaviour today makes the Welsh Government a laughing stock and risks damaging the reputation of the National Assembly.
“This is once again a scandalous attempt by the First Minister to run away from being held to account for the answers he gives to this place and specifically in this case, his conduct in office.
“This cannot be allowed to continue and there must be an urgent independent investigation into the allegations of bullying at the heart of the First Minister’s office, including getting to the bottom of whether he has deliberately misled the Assembly in a possible attempt to conceal bullying, intimidation and undermining of ministers.
“In 2014, he formally denied having received any complaints of this nature but yesterday he admitted that was not the case.
“In the absence of an explanation, we can only assume he is hiding something from AMs.”
On Tuesday Mr Davies wrote to the First Minister calling on him to refer himself for independent investigation under the Ministerial Code to determine whether he had misled the Assembly.
Last night Ms Wood wrote to Mr Jones stating: “I’m writing to you to ask you to clarify the uncertainty surrounding a statement you made in a Written Answer on November 11, 2014.
“The Written Question had asked if you had ‘received any reports or been made aware of any allegations of bullying by special and/or specialist advisers at any time in the past three years and, if so, when and what action, if any, was taken?’
“And your answer was that ‘no allegations have been made’.
“Yesterday (November 14, 2017) at First Minister’s Questions you appeared to contradict the 2014 answer by saying ‘were any issues raised with me dealt with? The answer to that is: yes, they were dealt with’.
“When asked to clarify the issue today (November 15, 2017) you said that you had nothing to add. Your refusal to answer the direct question as to whether you stand by the claim you made in 2014 that no such allegations had been made, has raised the question as to whether the Assembly has been misled. I look forward to receiving a reply with your clarification at your earliest convenience.”
Bernie Attridge, a lifelong friend of Carl Sargeant’s who is deputy leader of Flintshire County Council, said: “This contradiction adds to the case for Carwyn Jones to resign.”