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Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones 'knew of culture of bullying' First Minister knew of bullying culture, says Andrews
(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". A former Welsh Government minister has alleged there was a bullying culture during his time in cabinet that First Minister Carwyn Jones was aware of but "nothing was done".
Leighton Andrews describes a "toxic" atmosphere among Welsh government ministers and officials. Leighton Andrews described a "toxic" atmosphere and said Carl Sargeant had been the target of some bullying.
Mr Andrews said that Carl Sargeant "was unquestionably the target of some of this behaviour." Mr Jones is set to explain to Labour AMs how he handled allegations against Mr Sargeant of inappropriate behaviour.
It is understood Mr Sargeant took his own life on Tuesday. Mr Sargeant was sacked on Friday and found dead four days later.
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. It is understood he took his own life, days after Mr Jones dismissed him as communities secretary following claims made about the AM for Alyn and Deeside to the first minister's office.
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 had vowed to clear his name but said he did not know the details of the allegations.
Mr Sargeant was suspended by Labour and sacked from Mr Jones's cabinet last Friday. Mr Andrews - who alleged "minor bullying" and "mind games" during his time in government - said "the undermining was of ministers, deputy ministers and special advisers".
Former local government minister Mr Andrews said he raised one particular issue with Mr Jones, of which he had direct evidence, but claimed due process was not followed.
The Welsh Government has declined to respond to Mr Andrews' statement.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 a meeting with Labour AMs at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay on Thursday.
There has been criticism of the way Mr Sargeant was treated and his family's calls for an inquiry. There has been criticism of the way Mr Sargeant was treated and his family have called for an inquiry.
Family friend and political consultant Daran Hill visited the family on Wednesday night. 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.
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". In his statement, Mr Andrews said: "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.
Asked if Mr Jones should resign Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said it would be wrong to speculate. "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.
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." "The first minister was made aware of this by several ministers, including myself. Nothing was done," he added.
"It would be wrong for any speculation by me or anybody else to take place on those circumstances," he added. 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".
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. Previous comments by Mr Andrews - and other Labour politicians both privately and publicly - had already increased the pressure on Mr Jones.
She is the first Welsh Government minister to speak since Mr Sargeant's death. Mr Andrews had said he and many others were "angry" the first minister commented on the allegations in TV interviews on Monday.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Analysis by Nick Servini, BBC Wales political editor
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.
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.
I expect the meeting on Thursday to be no different.
'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.
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.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".
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.
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.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."