CARWYN WILL NOT ATTEND AM’S FUNERAL
WALES’ First Minister, Carwyn Jones, will not attend the funeral of Carl Sargeant. Mr Jones said that he would have liked to attend the funeral tomorrow but would “of course respect the wishes” of Mr Sargeant’s family.
The statement was issued as the Senedd debated whether or not to hold an inquiry into Mr Jones over allegations he misled AMs, which was rejected.
Mr Jones said: “Lisa and I would have liked to attend the funeral on Friday to pay our respects to our friend.
“However, we of course respect the wishes of the family at this time, and would hope they can celebrate Carl’s life in peace and without distraction.”
The comments were made as a debate was held to decide whether First Minister Carwyn Jones should be scrutinised by an Assembly inquiry over allegations that he misled AMs over allegations of bullying in the Welsh Government in 2014.
Assembly Members blocked the call for the inquiry, tabled by the Welsh Conservatives, by 29 votes to 27.
During the debate Assembly Member for Llanelli Lee Waters accused people of using Mr Sargeant’s death to “settle old scores”.
Mr Waters said that he found the process “difficult and uncomfortable”, coming only three weeks after the death of former Communities Minister Mr Sargeant.
He then claimed that certain people had used Mr Sargeant’s death to further their own agendas, while adding there was much more that he had refrained from saying.
“I find this afternoon’s debate incredibly difficult and uncomfortable,” Mr Waters told the chamber at the Welsh Assembly.
“There’s much that I would like to say, but I think it would be wise not to say it at this time.
“In two days’ time we’re going to be burying our colleague and friend and I think it’s unseemly to be having this nature of debate.
“I find it reprehensible the way that people have used this tragedy to settle scores from their time in government.”
Mr Waters’ comments drew a rapid response from former Welsh Government Minister Leighton Andrews, who spoke out in the wake of Mr Sargeant’s death to say that he had reported a culture of bullying in the Welsh Government back in 2014.
He seemed to take Mr Waters’ remarks as a personal attack, and responded on Twitter by saying: “I will read the record carefully as I was with a student when this speech was made, but this looks like a repeat of his attack on me two weeks ago.
“No-one has been using Carl’s death to settle scores.
“I suspect I have had rather more contact with Carl’s family than Lee Waters has.”
Speaking afterwards, Mr Andrews added that he had been subjected to attacks in the wake of Mr Sargeant’s death.
He said: “Over the last two weeks I and others who have been speaking up for Carl have been subjected to a series of personal attacks.”
In what was a lively debate, Labour AM for Torfaen Lynne Neagle said that “the motion was not the right thing to do for a number of reasons”, and added that, although scrutiny is needed, it should not be done through public committee hearings.
Leader of the Welsh Conservatives Andrew RT Davies had accused Ms Neagle of “taking the shilling”, before Mr Waters responded by shouting: “How dare you? You’re a disgrace.”
Mr Davies later said that it was vital that an inquiry be held so that certain allegations can be cleared up, saying: “There will be no happier person in this chamber if allegations (of bullying) can be disproved.”