Shock death of ex-minister in sexual misconduct probe
WELSH politics has been rocked to its foundations by the apparent suicide of Labour AM Carl Sargeant, who was forced to relinquish his role in the Cabinet last week amid unspecified allegations of sexual misconduct.
The AM was found dead in his home at Connah’s Quay, Flintshire, yesterday morning.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the death was “terrible and deeply shocking” while his deputy Tom Watson said it was a “tragedy beyond words”.
First Minister Carwyn Jones, who told Mr Sargeant last Friday that allegations had been made against him, said he was “shocked and deeply saddened”.
Police were called to his home in Mr Sargeant’s Alyn and Deeside seat, at 11.30am following a report that a body had been found.
He was married to Bernie and they had two grown-up children, Lucy and Jack.
In a statement the family said: “Carl was a much-loved husband,
father and friend. He wasn’t simply a part of our family. He was the glue that bound us together. He was the heart of our family. We loved him so very much. He was the most kind and caring husband, father, son and friend. We are devastated beyond words, and we know our grief will be shared by all those who knew and loved him. We are in shock and grief. We ask that our privacy is respected at this time.”
Mr Sargeant was told about the existence of allegations against him by Mr Jones last week but was not given details about the claims.
In a statement last Friday, Mr Sargeant said: “I met with the First Minister today and he informed me allegations had been made about my personal conduct, which was shocking and distressing to me. The details of the allegations have yet to be disclosed to me. I have written to the General Secretary of Welsh Labour requesting an urgent independent investigation into these allegations in order to allow me to clear my name.
“Given the nature of the allegations, I agreed with the First Minister that it was right that I stand aside from Cabinet. I look forward to returning to Government once my name has been cleared. I won’t be commenting further at this stage.”
On Monday, Mr Jones said he was forced to take action after becoming aware of “certain incidents” with women allegedly involving Mr Sargeant.
He told ITV News: “My office spoke to the women involved, as a result of those discussions I felt there was no choice other than to refer the matter to my own party for further investigation.”
Responding to his former colleague’s death, Mr Jones said yesterday: “Carl was a friend as well as a colleague and I am shocked and deeply saddened by his death. He made a big contribution to Welsh public life and fought tirelessly for those he represented both as a minister and as a local Assembly Member. He will be a great loss both to our party and to the Senedd.
“My heartfelt sympathies are with his family at this difficult time.”
Prime Minister Theresa May said: “My thoughts are with the friends and family of Carl Sargeant following his tragic death.”
Deputy Labour leader Tom Watson said he had campaigned with Mr Sargeant for many years: “He was a powerful voice for working people and Wales. He put community at the heart of his politics and was respected by his constituents for it.”
Alyn and Deeside’s Labour MP Mark Tami, who had shared an office with Mr Sargeant, said: “I will miss him very much.”
Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns said he was “shocked and saddened by the tragic news”.
Family members hugged each other on the drive of the mid-terrace former council house where Mr Sargeant lived, round the corner from the school where his wife works as a teaching assistant, as a black private ambulance left the property, guarded by police.
Neighbours and locals spoke of their shock at the news.
Lifelong childhood friend and fellow Labour Party representative Bernie Attridge wiped away tears as he spoke.
Mr Attridge, 46, the deputy leader of Flintshire council, speaking at the local Labour Club, said: “I’m absolutely distraught. He was a personal friend of mine. I’ve known Carl all my life. We’ve grown up together in Connah’s Quay. Carl was very instrumental in saving this club that we are standing in now from closing.
“Today I find myself in very dark days. It’s such a sad loss of such a great friend of mine. My heartfelt thoughts are with Bernadette his wife, Jack his son and Lucy his daughter. At the end of the day allegations were made, I’m a great believer you are innocent until proven guilty.
“I don’t know the details of the suspension, I know he’s a very loyal man.”
Mr Attridge said Mr Sargeant worked as an industrial firefighter at a local factory and became a member of Connah’s Quay town council as his political career began.
He added: “He was an excellent constituent Assembly Member, nothing was too much trouble for him. Even when we were out in here enjoying ourselves, having private time on a Saturday night, on many occasions if anyone had any issues Carl was first on the scene, first to take details, it wasn’t, ‘ring me.’ he was very approachable. He fought hard for Alyn and Deeside.”
Mr Corbyn said it was important that everyone caught up in allegations of impropriety received proper pastoral support.
“All allegations must be examined and must be pursued but there also has to be great pastoral care and support for everybody caught up in these accusations,” he told Sky News. “Everyone needs help and support, whatever their situation, and that’s how we must get through these things.”
Superintendent Mark Pierce of North Wales Police said: “At approximately 11.30am today, Tuesday November 7, North Wales Police were called to a report that the body of a man had been found at an address in Connah’s Quay.
“The man has been formally identified as local AM Carl Sargeant. His next of kin have been informed and police are supporting the family. North Wales Police are not treating his death as suspicious and the matter has been referred to HM Coroner. The family request that their privacy is respected at this sad time.”
Questions remain about the handling of the allegations made against Mr Sargeant by the Welsh Government and by the Labour Party.
Before his death Mr Sargeant had told friends he still had not been given specifics about what the allegations amounted to, nor about who his accusers were.
We asked Welsh Labour to clarify whether Mr Sargeant had been given details of the allegations against him or the names of his accusers. The party refused to comment.
It is understood that Labour MPs have not been briefed by the party about the allegations against Mr Sargeant – and neither have AMs.
The party has recently adopted new procedures following the spate of sexual harassment allegations made in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal.
One Labour AM said: “Everyone who is accused of doing wrong has a right to be told the detail of allegations against them and who their accusers are. That would happen in any other workplace. This has been handled terribly.”
All business at the Assembly this week has been cancelled and will be rescheduled after sittings resume next week.