An investigation has been launched into allegations that the sacking of Carl Sargeant, the Welsh politician who was found dead four days after his dismissal, was leaked before he was told.
Sargeant apparently took his own life after he was sacked as a Welsh government minister amid allegations of harassment.
The former Labour minister in the Welsh assembly Leighton Andrews has said he believes others were told of the sacking before Sargeant.
The Welsh first minister, Carwyn Jones, has asked the permanent secretary, Shan Morgan, to examine the claims.
A spokesman for the first minister said: “Whilst no evidence has been found to support these allegations, the first minister has asked the permanent secretary to look into the matter.”
Sargeant, 49, was found dead at his home in Connah’s Quay, north Wales, four weeks ago having after being sacked as the cabinet secretary for communities and children. It is understood that Sargeant was facing harassment allegations from three women, which he strongly denied.
Jones claimed he had done everything “by the book” but subsequently agreed that an independent inquiry should take place. He is to face a second investigation after Andrews and ex adviser Steve Jones claimed there had been bullying within his office.
In a blogpost, Andrews said he believed a journalist, a Labour assembly member and a Labour MP were aware of what was about to happen before Sargeant’s removal.
He wrote: “Were the leaks to the Labour AM, the Labour MP and the journalist direct from the ‘Fifth Floor’ – the ministerial floor [of the Welsh assembly] – or were they from intermediaries who had themselves had information leaked to them?
“If so, who were the intermediaries and what interest did they have in leaking the material, and why was it leaked to them and by whom? At the end of the day, information must have been leaked from someone – or some people – on the fifth floor.”
He added: “Someone, or some people, leaked the news about Carl Sargeant’s sacking … It is unprecedented. So who leaked? And to whom? And how many people knew?”
An independent inquiry led by a QC will look into the circumstances leading up to Sargeant’s death.
A separate inquiry is looking into whether Jones broke the ministerial code in how he handled questions about a “toxic” culture within the Welsh government dating back to 2014.
A full inquest into Sargeant’s death will also take place.
- In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international suicide helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org.
