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'No alternative' but to sack Carl Sargeant says Carwyn Jones No alternative but to sack Carl Sargeant says Carwyn Jones
(35 minutes later)
Carwyn Jones had no alternative but to sack Carl Sargeant, the first minister has told a press conference. First Minister Carwyn Jones has said he had no alternative but to sack Carl Sargeant following allegations about his conduct.
He said he will co-operate with a future inquest into the former communities secretary who was found dead on Tuesday. Mr Sargeant's body was found on Tuesday, four days after he was dismissed as communities minister and suspended from the Welsh Labour party.
Mr Jones said he acted "by the book" over the sacking of former minister Carl Sargeant. It is understood he took his own life. Mr Jones told a news conference he would cooperate with an inquest.
He added that: "I had no alternative but to take the action that I did and I hope that people will understand that." The Bridgend AM said he acted "by the book" over the matter.
Mr Jones dismissed Mr Sargeant following claims of inappropriate behaviour made to the first minister's office. Claims about inappropriate behaviour were made to the first minister's office last week.
The Alyn and Deeside AM had vowed to clear his name but said he did not know the details of the allegations. Following Friday's sacking, the Alyn and Deeside AM had vowed to clear his name but said he did not know the details of the allegations.
He spoke after former minister Leighton Andrews alleged that Carl Sargeant was the target of bullying in the Welsh Government.
He alleged First Minister Carwyn Jones knew of the allegations but nothing was done.
Mr Jones met Labour AMs on Thursday to explain how he handled conduct allegations against Mr Sargeant.Mr Jones met Labour AMs on Thursday to explain how he handled conduct allegations against Mr Sargeant.
Found dead four days after being sacked from the cabinet on Friday, it is understood Mr Sargeant took his own life. The inquest into Mr Sargeant's death will be opened and adjourned at 13:00 GMT on Monday, at the coroner's court in Ruthin, north Wales.
Mr Jones is expected to make a statement from Welsh Government headquarters in Cardiff on Thursday afternoon, following the meeting with Labour AMs at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay which has finished. Mr Jones made a statement from Welsh Government headquarters in Cardiff on Thursday afternoon, following a meeting with Labour AMs at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay.
One AM said the meeting was "inconclusive".
The Welsh Government has declined to respond to Mr Andrews's claims.
There has been criticism of the way Mr Sargeant was treated and his family has called for an inquiry.There has been criticism of the way Mr Sargeant was treated and his family has called for an inquiry.
Mr Jones, speaking for the first time since Mr Sargeant died, said: "There are a lot of inaccuracies in the press and many of you have questions to ask about what happened last week.
"Everybody is grieving and it is not appropriate for me to get into the precise detail.
"These are matters for the future - things that will need to be properly disclosed through what should be a coroner's inquest."
"As there will in all probability be an inquest, I and my team will of course be cooperating fully with any questions that are raised there.
"The family deserve to have their questions answered and if that isn't possible through the inquest then I will endeavour to make that happen through other means."
'Force of nature'
He paid tribute to Mr Sargeant, adding: "Carl was a true force of nature - he drove through more legislation than any other minister. Not just through force of argument, but through force of personality."
Mr Jones spoke after former minister Leighton Andrews alleged that Mr Sargeant had been the target of bullying in the Welsh Government.
Former public services minister Mr Andrews - who alleged "minor bullying" and "mind games" during his time in government - said during the last assembly term the atmosphere "was toxic".Former public services minister Mr Andrews - who alleged "minor bullying" and "mind games" during his time in government - said during the last assembly term the atmosphere "was toxic".
He alleged "minor bullying, mind-games, power-games, favouritism, inconsistency of treatment to different ministers, deliberate personal undermining on occasion".He alleged "minor bullying, mind-games, power-games, favouritism, inconsistency of treatment to different ministers, deliberate personal undermining on occasion".
"The undermining was of ministers, deputy ministers and special advisers," Mr Andrews said in a statement issued on Thursday."The undermining was of ministers, deputy ministers and special advisers," Mr Andrews said in a statement issued on Thursday.
The ex-Rhondda AM said he had raised one particular issue with Mr Jones, of which he had direct evidence, but claimed due process was not followed.The ex-Rhondda AM said he had raised one particular issue with Mr Jones, of which he had direct evidence, but claimed due process was not followed.
Mr Andrews was sacked by Mr Jones from the education brief in 2013 before returning to the front benches as public services minister in 2014.Mr Andrews was sacked by Mr Jones from the education brief in 2013 before returning to the front benches as public services minister in 2014.
In his statement, Mr Andrews added: "I found that the atmosphere was unquestionably worse after I returned to government in September 2014 than it had been in the period May 2011-June 2013.In his statement, Mr Andrews added: "I found that the atmosphere was unquestionably worse after I returned to government in September 2014 than it had been in the period May 2011-June 2013.
"Carl was unquestionably the target of some of this behaviour. The relentless drip-drip of disinformation - and worse - had a strain on his and others' mental health."Carl was unquestionably the target of some of this behaviour. The relentless drip-drip 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."The first minister was made aware of this by several ministers, including myself.
"Nothing was done.""Nothing was done."
Family friend and political consultant Daran Hill said on Twitter there was "disbelief" in Mr Sargeant's home town of Connah's Quay, Flintshire, "that the first minister is explaining his side of events to AMs without offering any explanation to the public or the devastated family". The Welsh Government has declined to respond to Mr Andrews's claims.
Previous comments by Mr Andrews - and other Labour politicians both privately and publicly - had already increased the pressure on Mr Jones.Previous comments by Mr Andrews - and other Labour politicians both privately and publicly - had already increased the pressure on Mr Jones.
Mr Andrews said on Wednesday he and many others were "angry" the first minister commented on the allegations in TV interviews on Monday.
He told BBC One's Wales Live programme: "Having passed this over on Friday to the Labour Party, on Monday the first minister is doing interviews with the BBC and I think with ITV as well in which he is elaborating on the story and commenting on the story.
"Well, that is not due process.
"People do not think Carl Sargeant has been treated fairly."
In response, a Labour Party spokesman said on Wednesday: "Following allegations brought to the attention of Welsh Labour by Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones, an investigation was launched by the UK party.
"The Labour Party Governance and legal unit spoke with Carl Sargeant and, in line with agreed procedure, outlined the nature of the allegations that had been received and how the complaints process works."
Cerys Furlong, chief executive of equality charity Chwarae Teg, said the allegations against Mr Sargeant "need to still be fully investigated in due course, as do the circumstances into his death in a way that respects the feelings of his family".Cerys Furlong, chief executive of equality charity Chwarae Teg, said the allegations against Mr Sargeant "need to still be fully investigated in due course, as do the circumstances into his death in a way that respects the feelings of his family".