The Assembly politician who was unusual in being authentically working class
BORN in St Asaph, Denbighshire, in 1968, Carl Sargeant worked as a process operator at Warwick International, a specialist chemical manufacturer, at its site in Mostyn, on the north Wales coast.
He was also a quality environmental auditor and a member of the site’s emergency response team. In terms of public service, he was a governor of Deeside College and a trained industrial fire fighter.
Before being elected to the National Assembly in 2003 as the Labour AM for Alyn & Deeside, he sat as a member of Connah’s Quay Town Council.
In the Third Assembly, following the election in May 2007, he was appointed Chief Whip of the Labour Group and a Deputy Minister for Assembly Business.
When the One Wales coalition government with Plaid Cymru was formed in July 2007 he retained the role of Labour Chief Whip.
In December 2009, when Rhodri Morgan stood down as First Minister, he was appointed Minister for Social Justice and Local Government in Carwyn Jones’ first Cabinet.
Speaking to the Flintshire Chronicle at the time, Mr Sargeant said: “I was honoured when our new First Minister, Carwyn Jones, asked me to join his Cabinet and take up the important role of Minister for Social Justice and Local Government.
“This is the first time a north Walian has held this portfolio, and so I hope to bring my local knowledge to the role and to ensure that the Welsh Assembly Government continues to be visible to people in north Wales.”
As Minister for Social Justice, he became known as a champion of equality and women’s rights, and backed a succession of initiatives aimed at tackling domestic violence.
His profile on the Assembly’s website said: “Carl’s commitment to social justice was sparked after seeing the devastation of his local community in the 1980s. Steelmaking ceased at Shotton Steelworks and 6,500 people were made redundant overnight. This event, along with local textile mill closures and the effects of the recession, left the community reeling. At one point more than 30% of local men were unemployed.
“It was in this context that Carl witnessed the damaging impact of heavy drinking and domestic violence on families locally. He is a tireless campaigner against domestic abuse, championing the White Ribbon campaign and supporting the Shotton-based Domestic Abuse Safety Unit.”
Later he served as Minister for Local Government and Communities, Memorably, he sent in commissioners to take over the running of Anglesey council after years of political infighting. He was subsequently Minister for Housing and Regeneration and Minister for Natural Resources.
After the May 2016 Assembly election, Mr Sargeant was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children. In that capacity he was responsible for the Welsh Government’s response to the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy in London, aiming to ensure that high-rise apartment blocks in Wales were as safe as possible.
Before news broke last week of the unspecified allegations against him, there had been speculation that he would lose his Cabinet role as part of a plan by Carwyn Jones to promote newer members of the Labour group.
Mr Sargeant was a keen football fan and enjoyed watching Newcastle United FC and, at grassroots level, he was president of FC Nomads of Connah’s Quay.
He leaves Bernie, his wife, and their two grown-up children, Lucy and Jack.