Welsh First Minister to quit after ‘the darkest of times’
CARWYN JONES has announced he is to stand down as the Welsh First Minister in the autumn.
The 51-year-old former barrister from Swansea made the announcement at the Welsh Labour conference in Llandudno yesterday.
His decision to stand down will bring to an end his nine-year stint as First Minister, having succeeded Rhodri Morgan in December 2009.
The decision comes months after Mr Jones referred himself to an independent inquiry over allegations of bullying at a senior level of the Welsh Government three years ago, following the death of Carl Sargeant in November.
Mr Sargeant is believed to have taken his own life four days after being removed from his role as cabinet secretary for communities and children over allegations of “unwanted attention, inappropriate touching or groping”.
Mr Jones acknowledged “the darkest of times” in recent months, and thanked his children and wife – who he said had been seriously ill in the run-up to conference – for their support.
He said: “In any political career, you expect to be put through the wringer, and have your integrity challenged. I don’t think anyone can know what these last few months have been like.”
Stephen Kinnock, Labour MP for Aberavon, said: “Carwyn has been a brilliant leader of Welsh Labour, and an outstanding First Minister. Truly a giant of Welsh politics. We wish him well.”
Earlier, Carolyn Harris, the MP for Swansea East, had won the election to become Mr Jones’s deputy within the Welsh Labour party.