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| Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones 'knew of culture of bullying' | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A former minister alleges that there was a bullying culture during his time in cabinet that the first minister Carwyn Jones was aware of but "nothing was done". | |
| Leighton Andrews describes a "toxic" atmosphere among Welsh government ministers and officials. | |
| Mr Andrews said that Carl Sargeant "was unquestionably the target of some of this behaviour." | |
| It is understood Mr Sargeant took his own life on Tuesday. | |
| Former local government minister Mr Andrews said he raised one particular issue with Mr Jones of which he had direct evidence but that due process was not followed. | |
| The statement from Mr Andrews - alleging "minor bullying" and "mind games" - comes less than an hour before the first minister is due to meet Labour AMs to explain how he handled allegations of inappropriate behaviour against Mr Sargeant. | |
| Mr Sargeant was suspended by Labour and sacked from Mr Jones's cabinet last Friday. | |
| The Welsh Government has declined to respond to Mr Andrews' statement. | |
| Mr Jones is due to make a statement following the meeting in Cardiff Bay. | Mr Jones is due to make a statement following the meeting in Cardiff Bay. |
| There has been criticism of the way Mr Sargeant was treated and his family's calls for an inquiry. | |
| Family friend and political consultant Daran Hill visited the family on Wednesday night. | Family friend and political consultant Daran Hill visited the family on Wednesday night. |
| Earlier on Twitter Mr Hill said 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". | |
| Asked if Mr Jones should resign Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said it would be wrong to speculate. | Asked if Mr Jones should resign Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said it would be wrong to speculate. |
| Mr Corbyn said: "His [Mr Sergeant's] death is a terrible tragedy. His family is devastated. He was suspended last week. This tragedy happened a few days later." | Mr Corbyn said: "His [Mr Sergeant's] death is a terrible tragedy. His family is devastated. He was suspended last week. This tragedy happened a few days later." |
| "It would be wrong for any speculation by me or anybody else to take place on those circumstances," he added. | "It would be wrong for any speculation by me or anybody else to take place on those circumstances," he added. |
| Liberal Democrat Education Secretary Kirsty Williams gave Mr Jones her "absolute" and "complete" confidence as first minister, ahead of his meeting with Labour AMs later. | Liberal Democrat Education Secretary Kirsty Williams gave Mr Jones her "absolute" and "complete" confidence as first minister, ahead of his meeting with Labour AMs later. |
| She is the first Welsh Government minister to speak since Mr Sargeant's death. | She is the first Welsh Government minister to speak since Mr Sargeant's death. |
| Ms Williams told BBC Wales: "It's been a tragic, tragic week. Carl Sargeant was a good friend of mine and he will be missed sorely." | Ms Williams told BBC Wales: "It's been a tragic, tragic week. Carl Sargeant was a good friend of mine and he will be missed sorely." |
| "The first minister enjoys my complete and utter confidence," she added. | "The first minister enjoys my complete and utter confidence," she added. |
| Mr Sargeant was sacked from his job as communities secretary last Friday, after allegations of inappropriate behaviour were raised with Mr Jones's office. | Mr Sargeant was sacked from his job as communities secretary last Friday, after allegations of inappropriate behaviour were raised with Mr Jones's office. |
| The Alyn and Deeside AM had vowed to clear his name but said he did not know the details of the allegations. | The Alyn and Deeside AM had vowed to clear his name but said he did not know the details of the allegations. |
| He was found dead four days later. | He was found dead four days later. |
| A senior local government figure told BBC Wales there was a groundswell of opinion within Labour that Mr Sargeant had been badly let down by the party. | A senior local government figure told BBC Wales there was a groundswell of opinion within Labour that Mr Sargeant had been badly let down by the party. |
| There was an expectation some action will be taken at the meeting, he said. | There was an expectation some action will be taken at the meeting, he said. |
| The party's deputy leader Tom Watson told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme that if there are lessons to be learned from the Carl Sargeant case Labour will learn them. | The party's deputy leader Tom Watson told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme that if there are lessons to be learned from the Carl Sargeant case Labour will learn them. |
| He said: "Carl was a friend of mine... many of us are still in grief and shock at his loss." | He said: "Carl was a friend of mine... many of us are still in grief and shock at his loss." |
| He said he was not sure of the details of "who said what when and I" but added: "All I will say to you is, if there are lessons to be learned about how we apply our procedures we will learn them. | He said he was not sure of the details of "who said what when and I" but added: "All I will say to you is, if there are lessons to be learned about how we apply our procedures we will learn them. |
| Analysis by Nick Servini, BBC Wales political editor | Analysis by Nick Servini, BBC Wales political editor |
| Carwyn Jones will not have faced such a difficult meeting in his political career. | Carwyn Jones will not have faced such a difficult meeting in his political career. |
| Like all of Carl Sargeant's close friends and colleagues, he will be deeply saddened by events but he will have to convince Labour AMs the sacking was carried out in as reasonable a manner as possible under the circumstances. | Like all of Carl Sargeant's close friends and colleagues, he will be deeply saddened by events but he will have to convince Labour AMs the sacking was carried out in as reasonable a manner as possible under the circumstances. |
| I am told some of the assembly members are prepared to give him a fair hearing but there is anger within the party, particularly within some figures in local government, about the way in which this was handled. | I am told some of the assembly members are prepared to give him a fair hearing but there is anger within the party, particularly within some figures in local government, about the way in which this was handled. |
| There is still plenty of emotion in Welsh Labour surrounding the death of Mr Sargeant. | There is still plenty of emotion in Welsh Labour surrounding the death of Mr Sargeant. |
| I expect the meeting on Thursday to be no different. | I expect the meeting on Thursday to be no different. |
| 'Angry' | 'Angry' |
| Comments from Mr Andrews - and other Labour politicians both privately and publicly - had already increased the pressure on Mr Jones. | |
| Mr Andrews, once a key ally of Carwyn Jones, said he and many others were "angry" that the first minister commented on the allegations in TV interviews on Monday. | Mr Andrews, once a key ally of Carwyn Jones, said he and many others were "angry" that the first minister commented on the allegations in TV interviews on Monday. |
| He told BBC One's Wales Live programme on Wednesday: "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. | "Well, that is not due process. |
| "People do not think Carl Sargeant has been treated fairly." | "People do not think Carl Sargeant has been treated fairly." |
| Jenny Rathbone, Labour AM for Cardiff Central, told BBC Radio Wales she felt Mr Sargeant "wasn't dealt with fairly". | Jenny Rathbone, Labour AM for Cardiff Central, told BBC Radio Wales she felt Mr Sargeant "wasn't dealt with fairly". |
| Mr Sargeant's family have said he was accused of "unwanted attention, inappropriate touching or groping", which he denied, and letters sent between his solicitor and Labour show Mr Sargeant had pushed for more specific details on the claims. | Mr Sargeant's family have said he was accused of "unwanted attention, inappropriate touching or groping", which he denied, and letters sent between his solicitor and Labour show Mr Sargeant had pushed for more specific details on the claims. |
| His family said he was deprived of "natural justice" and have called for a full investigation of the way the allegations were dealt with. | His family said he was deprived of "natural justice" and have called for a full investigation of the way the allegations were dealt with. |
| 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." | "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". |
| She added: "At the same time, we still need to encourage women to come forward, not be afraid that telling someone about the things that have happened to them." | She added: "At the same time, we still need to encourage women to come forward, not be afraid that telling someone about the things that have happened to them." |