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Carwyn Jones could be replaced this year, says Labour AM Carwyn Jones could be replaced this year, says Labour AM
(35 minutes later)
A Labour AM has said Carwyn Jones could be replaced as Wales' first minister and Welsh Labour leader this year.A Labour AM has said Carwyn Jones could be replaced as Wales' first minister and Welsh Labour leader this year.
Cardiff Central AM Jenny Rathbone said the possibility of this happening is "certainly on the agenda".Cardiff Central AM Jenny Rathbone said the possibility of this happening is "certainly on the agenda".
Mr Jones faces an inquiry into his sacking of communities secretary Carl Sargeant, who was later found dead.Mr Jones faces an inquiry into his sacking of communities secretary Carl Sargeant, who was later found dead.
Economy Secretary Ken Skates said there were party "tensions" during the Alyn and Deeside by-election campaign but denied any movement against Mr Jones. The first minister said he would have "no problem" working with Mr Sargeant's son Jack, who won the by-election to succeed him as Alyn and Deeside AM.
The first minister did not campaign in the constituency with the successful Labour candidate, Mr Sargeant's son Jack, who won with 60% of the vote. Mr Jones did not visit the Flintshire constituency to campaign for Labour in Tuesday's by-election, which Jack Sargeant won with 60% of the vote.
He had been chosen by Labour to fight the by-election caused by the death of his father, who had been sacked from government and suspended by Labour following allegations, which he denied, about his personal conduct. His father was found dead in November four days after being sacked from government and suspended by Labour following allegations, which he denied, about his personal conduct towards women.
Mr Jones has been criticised for his handling of the sacking and Paul Bowen QC is currently leading an independent inquiry into the matter.Mr Jones has been criticised for his handling of the sacking and Paul Bowen QC is currently leading an independent inquiry into the matter.
Ms Rathbone gave her views to political commentator Gareth Hughes in a podcast. Asked by political commentator Gareth Hughes in a podcast if Wales would have a new first minister this year, Ms Rathbone replied: "There are certainly plenty of runners and riders already declaring their hand.
The backbench Labour AM was asked whether Wales would have a new first minister at some point this year.
She replied: "There are certainly plenty of runners and riders already declaring their hand.
"So it's certainly on the agenda.""So it's certainly on the agenda."
Speaking to BBC One's Wales Live programme on Wednesday night, Mr Skates said Jack Sargeant's win was for the "whole Labour movement" but acknowledged there had been problems. Economy Secretary Ken Skates told BBC One's Wales Live programme on Wednesday that Jack Sargeant's win was for the "whole Labour movement" but he could not deny there had been "tensions".
"I'm not going to deny there have been tensions but the fact of the matter is that Jack won," he said.
"There were concerns at times... but equally I have never ever experienced a campaign where there is such a warmth that you get from people on the doorstep.
"People were behind Jack."
Asked if the first minister had the support of Labour assembly members, Mr Skates said: "I can tell you there is no movement against him.Asked if the first minister had the support of Labour assembly members, Mr Skates said: "I can tell you there is no movement against him.
"I know there is always speculation about who is going to be next, who is the next leader? There's nothing new in that."I know there is always speculation about who is going to be next, who is the next leader? There's nothing new in that.
"I know that there will be a lot of speculation but the fact is Jack's going to be coming down next week. He is focused on delivery for the people of Alyn and Deeside.""I know that there will be a lot of speculation but the fact is Jack's going to be coming down next week. He is focused on delivery for the people of Alyn and Deeside."
Former Welsh Labour Government minister Leighton Andrews told the programme that Mr Jones's presence in the campaign would have been "very divisive". Carwyn Jones told BBC Wales on Thursday that he would have "no problem working" with the new Labour AM, although he said had not yet had a chance to speak to him following his victory.
He added: "I think the campaign and all the circumstances surrounding it inevitably raise questions about the leadership of Welsh Labour in the National Assembly." "There's no problem from my perspective and I want to make sure that Jack develops into a hugely effective assembly member for Alyn and Deeside," he said.
Irish lawyer James Hamilton is leading a separate inquiry into whether Mr Jones misled the assembly last November, when the first minister said no one at the top of his government had complained about bullying back in 2014. Asked why he failed to join Mr Sargeant on the campaign trail when Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn did, Mr Jones said: "Time was part of the problem."
He added: "There are no tensions,
"The team worked very well and we see that in the result - the best result for Welsh Labour in any assembly election [in Alyn and Deeside] and that's a tribute to all the people who worked so hard on the ground."
'Mini-dictators''Mini-dictators'
Irish lawyer James Hamilton is leading a separate inquiry into whether Mr Jones misled the assembly last November, when the first minister said no one at the top of his government had complained about bullying back in 2014.
On the podcast, Ms Rathbone was asked if she had seen signs of bullying in the Welsh Government as chair of a committee overseeing use of EU funds in Wales in 2015.On the podcast, Ms Rathbone was asked if she had seen signs of bullying in the Welsh Government as chair of a committee overseeing use of EU funds in Wales in 2015.
She said: "Not in carrying out my duties on that committee, no, but there certainly were people who didn't take kindly to anybody challenging their position.She said: "Not in carrying out my duties on that committee, no, but there certainly were people who didn't take kindly to anybody challenging their position.
"They were mini-dictators."They were mini-dictators.
"So yes, I wouldn't be surprised at the remarks made by others that there was bullying going on. "So yes, I wouldn't be surprised at the remarks made by others that there was bullying going on."
"I'm afraid to say that I think that is a definite possibility, but we obviously await the outcome of the inquiry."
A spokesman for the Welsh Conservatives said: "Something must be very wrong for senior Labour AMs to talk of 'mini-dictators' at the heart of their own government.A spokesman for the Welsh Conservatives said: "Something must be very wrong for senior Labour AMs to talk of 'mini-dictators' at the heart of their own government.
"And it's now open season on Carwyn Jones - with Labour AMs publicly admitting that an imminent change of First Minister is on the agenda.""And it's now open season on Carwyn Jones - with Labour AMs publicly admitting that an imminent change of First Minister is on the agenda."