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Carl Sargeant was 'facing months of hell' over claims Two Labour MPs call for Carl Sargeant death inquiry
(about 2 hours later)
Wales' first minister's statement on Carl Sargeant's death was "too little, too late", a former colleague has said. Two Welsh Labour MPs have called for an independent inquiry into circumstances around the death of former Welsh Government minister Carl Sargeant.
Carwyn Jones said on Thursday he had no alternative but to sack Mr Sargeant, who was found dead on Tuesday. First Minister Carwyn Jones said on Thursday he would be open to scrutiny over how he sacked Mr Sargeant, who was found dead on Tuesday.
The Alyn and Deeside AM was being investigated over claims of "touching or groping", and is understood to have taken his own life. The AM was being investigated over claims of "touching or groping" and is understood to have taken his own life.
Former minister Leighton Andrews said Mr Sargeant would have faced months of "hell" as the claims were investigated. MP Ian Lucas said an inquiry was "in the best interests of all involved".
Meanwhile Mark Tami, the Labour MP for Mr Sargeant's constituency, said procedures "were not up to it". The family of Mr Sargeant have said they hoped there would be a "full investigation" into how the allegations were handled.
Mr Tami and Labour MP for Wrexham Ian Lucas have joined calls for an inquiry. Mr Sargeant was dismissed from his job as communities secretary last Friday and suspended by the Labour Party.
The family of Mr Sargeant have said they hope there would be a "full investigation" into how the allegations were handled. He had vowed to clear his name but said he had not been made aware of the full details of the allegations.
Mr Sargeant was dismissed from his job as communities secretary last Friday, and suspended by the Labour Party.
He had vowed to clear his name, but said he had not been made aware of the full details of the allegations.
The former minister was found dead in his home four days later.The former minister was found dead in his home four days later.
Mr Andrews, who was the Rhondda AM between 2003 and 2016, was critical of the decision by the first minister to give media interviews about the sacking after the party's investigation had been launched. On Thursday, Mr Jones said: "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.
"I was severely troubled by the process," he told the BBC on Friday. "I welcome any scrutiny of my actions in the future and it is appropriate for that to be done independently."
"This was not eased by remarks the first minister made on Monday when he expanded on the allegations. But Wrexham MP Mr Lucas, in a letter to the first minister, said he did not believe an inquest "will address the issues necessary to learn the lessons of this terrible course of events".
"I was of the strong feeling that after the matter was handed to the Labour Party on Friday, people should not have been further commenting." Mark Tami, the Labour MP for Mr Sargeant's Alyn and Deeside constituency, said he did not think the statement would satisfy those angered by the process and grieving for Mr Sargeant.
Mr Andrews said this had "intensified pressure" on Mr Sargeant. "We need to have an inquiry into what exactly had happened and the family are happy with those terms of reference," he told BBC Wales.
Mr Tami said he was "slightly confused" about Mr Jones' indications over an inquiry - whether there would be one or only if an inquest "didn't come to something".
"We need to look at those procedures because they're not safeguarding. We've obviously got to look to protect those who are victims or those who are making allegations," he added.
"But equally we have a duty of care to those who the allegations are being made against."
A Labour AM, who did not want to be named, agreed with the calls for an independent probe, saying Mr Tami and Mr Lucas' views are "very important and need to be given proper consideration".
Welsh Labour's former public services minister Leighton Andrews said the first minister's statement on Mr Sargeant's death had been "too little, too late".
The former cabinet minister added: "The process would have gone on well into January next year and there was no short conclusion.The former cabinet minister added: "The process would have gone on well into January next year and there was no short conclusion.
"It would have been hell for him and his family for some time.""It would have been hell for him and his family for some time."
Mr Andrews said the first minister was likely to be feeling "traumatised" by events.Mr Andrews said the first minister was likely to be feeling "traumatised" by events.
He said Mr Sargeant had been instrumental in Mr Jones' campaign to become first minister.
But, commenting on Thursday's statement by the first minister, he said: "In north Wales, in Carl Sargeant's own constituency, in Connah's Quay, where he grew up and still lived, it will be seen as too little, too late."But, commenting on Thursday's statement by the first minister, he said: "In north Wales, in Carl Sargeant's own constituency, in Connah's Quay, where he grew up and still lived, it will be seen as too little, too late."
Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies said permanent secretary Shan Morgan should investigate allegations made by Mr Andrews of a bullying culture in the Welsh Government in letters to Mr Jones and Ms Morgan, the Welsh Government's most senior civil servant. Mr Andrews, who was the Rhondda AM between 2003 and 2016, was critical of the decision by the first minister to give media interviews about the sacking after the party's investigation had been launched.
Former public services minister Mr Andrews claimed there was "minor bullying" and "mind games" during his time in government - and said the atmosphere was "toxic" during the last assembly term. "I was severely troubled by the process," he told the BBC on Friday. "This was not eased by remarks the first minister made on Monday when he expanded on the allegations."
He alleged Mr Sargeant had been the target of bullying in the Welsh Government. Meanwhile, Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies said permanent secretary Shan Morgan - the Welsh Government's most senior civil servant - should investigate Mr Andrews's earlier claims of a bullying culture within the administration with Mr Sargeant being one of the targets.
Alyn and Deeside MP Mark Tami said he did not think the statement would satisfy those angered by the process and grieving for Mr Sargeant.
He joined Mr Andrews, the Welsh Conservatives and Plaid Cymru in calling for a probe.
"We need to have an inquiry into what exactly had happened, and the family are happy with those terms of reference," he told BBC Wales.
Mr Tami said he was "slightly confused" about Mr Jones' indications over an inquiry - whether there would be one or only if an inquest "didn't come to something".
"We need to look at those procedures because they're not safeguarding. We've obviously got to look to protect those who are victims or those who are making allegations," he added.
"But equally we have a duty of care to those who the allegations are being made against."
Mr Lucas, in a letter to the first minister, said he did not believe an inquest "will address the issues necessary to learn the lessons of this terrible course of events".
An inquiry, he said, was "in the best interests of all involved".
Assembly members will pay formal tributes to Mr Sargeant at the Senedd when business resumes on Tuesday.Assembly members will pay formal tributes to Mr Sargeant at the Senedd when business resumes on Tuesday.
An inquest into Mr Sargeant's death is due to be opened on Monday.An inquest into Mr Sargeant's death is due to be opened on Monday.
David Banks, an expert in media law, told BBC Radio Wales it was "nonsense" to say an inquest prevented anyone giving any comments or explanation.David Banks, an expert in media law, told BBC Radio Wales it was "nonsense" to say an inquest prevented anyone giving any comments or explanation.
"Bureaucracy uses the fact of an inquest to try to shut down any comments or explanation as to what happened to someone before their death because of a notional idea that inquests can be prejudiced," he told the Good Morning Wales programme. "Bureaucracy uses the fact of an inquest to try to shut down any comments or explanation as to what happened to someone before their death because of a notional idea that inquests can be prejudiced," he told BBC Radio Wales' Good Morning Wales programme.
"We can have some answers now, and certainly the family of Mr Sargeant and the wider community he represented deserve those answers.""We can have some answers now, and certainly the family of Mr Sargeant and the wider community he represented deserve those answers."