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Pressure grows on Carwyn Jones to order Carl Sargeant inquiry Pressure grows on Carwyn Jones to order Carl Sargeant inquiry
(about 2 hours later)
The first minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones, is facing growing calls to commit to an independent investigation into his handling of harassment allegations made against the sacked minister Carl Sargeant. The first minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones, is facing growing calls to commit to an independent investigation into his handling of harassment allegations made against the sacked minister Carl Sargeant, who then killed himself.
The leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies, wrote to Jones on Friday to say it was of the “utmost importance” that Jones went further than his statement on Thursday night. A close friend of Sargeant’s told the Guardian on Friday that the former minister’s family remained very angry, and wanted answers after a statement by Jones in which he insisted he had done everything “by the book”.
Friends and colleagues of Sargeant have described the first minister’s statement as “too little too late” and of failing to reassure his bereaved family about his commitment to find answers. Bernie Attridge, the deputy leader of Flintshire county council, said on Friday he had spoken to Sargeant’s family and that Jones’s statement had failed to satisfy them.
Sargeant, 49, was found dead at his home in Connah’s Quay, Flintshire, on Tuesday morning, having apparently taken his own life four days after being sacked as the cabinet secretary for communities and children. It is understood that three women had made harassment allegations about Sargeant, which he denied. “They’re still very angry,” Attridge said. “They still want answers, but for themselves they need time to mourn the loss of a husband, a father, a brother and a son. They need their time. For the answers that both myself and the family wanted, I thought his statement was empty.”
In a letter to Jones on Friday, Davies said: “In your press conference yesterday, you alluded to the possibility of an independent inquiry into your handling of Carl Sargeant’s dismissal from the Welsh government cabinet, and the allegations which led to this decision. Indeed, you went as far as to say you would welcome the scrutiny.” On Thursday, Jones said Welsh politics was in the midst of its “darkest days”. But the first minister did not apologise or say there should be any independent inquiry, although there have been complaints that he spoke about Sargeant’s case in an interview with the BBC.
Sargeant, 49, was found dead at his home in Connah’s Quay, Flintshire, on Tuesday morning, having apparently killed himself four days after being sacked as the cabinet secretary for communities and children. It is understood that three women had made harassment allegations against Sargeant, which he denied.
Attridge and another Labour county councillor, Andy Dunbobbin, said on Friday that they were writing to every constituency Labour party in north Wales, urging them to sign a letter of no confidence in Jones, who has led the party since December 2009.
In Connah’s Quay, a growing number of ribbons and scarves adorn the railings outside the town’s Labour club, where hundreds of mourners have signed a book of condolence in Sargeant’s memory.
Speaking at the club on Friday, Attridge said Jones “deserted Carl in his hour of need” and should resign immediately. He added: “I believe his days are numbered. The quicker he does resign the better. Although that won’t bring my best friend Carl back, but it will help the mourning process, as at the moment the mourning has turned into anger that Carwyn Jones won’t do the decent thing. All I saw by him not resigning is him looking after himself.”
The leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies, also wrote to Jones on Friday to say it was of the “utmost importance” that he went further than his statement on Thursday night.
Davies urged Jones to immediately launch two investigations – one into his handling of the Sargeant allegations, and another into bullying claims made by Leighton Andrews, a former Welsh government minister. Andrews said Jones had known that Sargeant was “fragile” before he sacked him.
Davies wrote in a letter to the first minister: “In your press conference yesterday, you alluded to the possibility of an independent inquiry into your handling of Carl Sargeant’s dismissal from the Welsh government cabinet, and the allegations which led to this decision. Indeed, you went as far as to say you would welcome the scrutiny.”
He added: “In the spirit of transparency, and if confidence is to be restored in this process, I believe it is of the utmost importance to the family that you confirm today that this will now proceed in earnest.”He added: “In the spirit of transparency, and if confidence is to be restored in this process, I believe it is of the utmost importance to the family that you confirm today that this will now proceed in earnest.”
Davies also called for a separate independent inquiry into allegations of bullying made by Leighton Andrews, a former Welsh government minister. Andrews said on Thursday night that Jones knew Sargeant was “fragile” before he sacked him. A key focus of any inquiry would be why Jones spoke of the allegations against Sargeant in television interviews on Monday, three days after the investigation was passed on to the national party to deal with. He would also be asked to say whether he had previously heard allegations against Sargeant and, if so, what he had done about them.
Mark Tami, the Labour MP for Sargeant’s constituency in Westminster and who shared an office with him, said he was confused by Jones’s statement and that there was an urgent need for an inquiry into the party’s handling of harassment allegations in general. Mark Tami, the Labour MP in Westminster for Sargeant’s constituency, who shared an office with him, said he was confused by Jones’s statement and that there was an urgent need for an inquiry into the party’s handling of harassment allegations in general.
Ian Lucas, the Labour MP for Wrexham, also wrote to Jones on Friday calling for him to announce an independent investigation. In a letter to the first minister, Lucas said he did not believe a coroner’s inquest would “address the issues necessary to learn the lessons of this terrible course of events”.Ian Lucas, the Labour MP for Wrexham, also wrote to Jones on Friday calling for him to announce an independent investigation. In a letter to the first minister, Lucas said he did not believe a coroner’s inquest would “address the issues necessary to learn the lessons of this terrible course of events”.
I enclose a copy of a letter I have sent to the First Minister. pic.twitter.com/id3mzkLYqPI enclose a copy of a letter I have sent to the First Minister. pic.twitter.com/id3mzkLYqP
Those close to Sargeant’s family said on Friday they were still absorbing the first minister’s statement and whether they would get the answers necessary from a coroner’s inquest. Those close to Sargeant’s family said on Friday that they were still absorbing the first minister’s statement and questioning whether they would get the necessary answers from a coroner’s inquest.
In a highly charged press conference in Cardiff on Thursday, Jones defended his actions, saying everything had been done “by the book”. He said: “I had no alternative but to take the action that I did and I hope that people will understand that.” In the highly charged press conference in Cardiff on Thursday, Jones defended his actions, saying everything had been done “by the book”. He said: “I had no alternative but to take the action that I did and I hope that people will understand that.”
Jones described Sargeant, as a great minister and chief whip, and said he could not imagine what his wife, Bernie, and his family were going through. Jones described Sargeant as a great minister and chief whip, and said he could not imagine what his wife, Bernie, and his family were going through.
He said: “Carl was my friend. In all the years that I knew him I never had a cross word with him. For 14 years we worked together. He ... served his country with distinction. Carl was a true force of nature. He drove through more legislation than any other minister. Not just through force of argument but through sheer force of personality and persuasion.He said: “Carl was my friend. In all the years that I knew him I never had a cross word with him. For 14 years we worked together. He ... served his country with distinction. Carl was a true force of nature. He drove through more legislation than any other minister. Not just through force of argument but through sheer force of personality and persuasion.
“Wales has lost a person of great warmth, ability and charisma. These are the darkest days any of us can remember in this institution, but they are darkest of all for the family.”“Wales has lost a person of great warmth, ability and charisma. These are the darkest days any of us can remember in this institution, but they are darkest of all for the family.”
Declining to answer questions, Jones said: “Everybody is grieving and it is not appropriate for me to get into precise detail. These are matters for the future.” He said his team would cooperate with the inquest due to open next week.Declining to answer questions, Jones said: “Everybody is grieving and it is not appropriate for me to get into precise detail. These are matters for the future.” He said his team would cooperate with the inquest due to open next week.
On Wednesday, Sargeant’s family released correspondence showing that the allegations concerned “unwanted attention, inappropriate touching or groping” – which he had denied.On Wednesday, Sargeant’s family released correspondence showing that the allegations concerned “unwanted attention, inappropriate touching or groping” – which he had denied.
A spokeswoman for the Welsh Labour party declined to comment.A spokeswoman for the Welsh Labour party declined to comment.