Carl Sargeant | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Sargeant in 2016 | |
| Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children | |
| In office 19 May 2016 – 3 November 2017 | |
| First Minister | Carwyn Jones |
| Preceded by | Jeffrey Cuthbert |
| Succeeded by | Alun Davies[1] |
| Member of theWelsh Assembly forAlyn and Deeside | |
| In office 1 May 2003 – 7 November 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Tom Middlehurst |
| Succeeded by | Jack Sargeant |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 27 July 1968 St Asaph,Flintshire, Wales |
| Died | (aged 49) Connah's Quay,Flintshire, Wales |
| Political party | Welsh Labour(suspended from 3 November 2017) |
| Spouse | Bernie Sargeant |
| Children | 2, includingJack Sargeant |
Carl Sargeant (27 July 1968 – 7 November 2017[2]) was a Welsh politician who was theCabinet secretaries and ministers Secretary for Communities and Children in theWelsh Government. He represented the constituency ofAlyn and Deeside in theNational Assembly for Wales from 2003.
Sargeant was removed from his Cabinet position and suspended fromWelsh Labour on 3 November 2017 following allegations about his behaviour. He died four days later. On 11 July 2019, an inquest ruled his death a suicide.
Sargeant was born inSt Asaph,Flintshire, to Sylvia (née Hughes) and Malcolm Sargeant.[3][4] Before becoming an Assembly Member, Sargeant worked as a process operator[5] at the Warwick International Limited chemical manufacturing plant[6] inMostyn.[7] He was also a quality and environmental auditor and a member of the site's Emergency Response Team.[7]
He trained as an industrialfirefighter, and became aschool governor ofDeeside College and Ysgol Bryn Devaprimary school.[8][7] He was married, with ason and daughter.[9]
His political career began as an elected member ofConnah's Quaytown council.[8] His political views developed following the ending of steel production atShotton in 1980, which contributed to the area's high local unemployment rates.[8] He became an active campaigner for social justice and against domestic violence, identifying as a feminist.[8][10]
Sargeant was first elected as the AM for Alyn and Deeside in theNational Assembly for Wales election of 2003, afterTom Middlehurst stood down.[11]
He was appointedChief Whip of the Labour Group and a Deputy Welsh Minister for Assembly Business in the Third Assembly of theWelsh Assembly Government (31 May 2007).[11] He remainedLabourChief Whip when theOne Wales coalition government of Labour andPlaid Cymru was announced on 19 July.[12]
In December 2009, he was madeMinister for Social Justice andLocal Government in the cabinet of theFirst Minister of Wales,Carwyn Jones. Speaking to theFlintshire Chronicle, Sargeant spoke of his pride in being the first person from North Wales to hold the post.[12]
In June 2011, he dismissed the three commissioners of theLocal Government Boundary Commission for Wales, stating that the body "has lost the confidence of its stakeholders".[13] The two others, also members of theBoundary Commission for Wales, resigned their posts there, leading to the start of theSixth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies being delayed in Wales.[14]
Following the2016 National Assembly election, he was appointed asCabinet Secretary for Communities and Children. He led the Welsh Government's response to theGrenfell Tower disaster in 2017.[15]
Amidst the2017 Westminster sexual scandals he was suspended from the Labour Party and removed from his position on 3 November 2017, following unspecified allegations about his personal conduct.[16]
Sargeant was found dead at his home in Connah's Quay on 7 November 2017.North Wales Police said that they were not treating his death as suspicious.[17] It was reported that Sargeant had taken his own life.[18] At the opening of the inquest on 13 November, thecoroner was told that his death was likely to have been due to hanging. The coroner also commented that the death was "an apparent act of self harm".[19] The coroner recorded a conclusion of suicide on 11 July 2019.[20]
Labour leaderJeremy Corbyn described his death as "terrible and deeply shocking news".[17] First Minister Carwyn Jones said, "He made a big contribution to Welsh public life and fought tirelessly for those he represented both as a minister and as a local Assembly Member".[9] The afternoon session in the Welsh Assembly was suspended after the news of his death.[9]
Following Sargeant's death, some politicians criticised the process that had led to his dismissal and suspension. Assembly MemberJenny Rathbone said that Sargeant had not been told details of the allegations that had been made against him, and other Labour members suggested that Wales' First Minister Carwyn Jones needed to answer questions about how the situation had been handled.[21] Sargeant's family released to the media copies of correspondence between his solicitor and Welsh Labour, in which Sargeant denied any inappropriate behaviour. The solicitor referred to "the anxiety and distress being caused to our client" (that is, Sargeant), and suggested that any delay in addressing the allegations would be "both prejudicial to the preparation of our client's case but also to his physical and mental wellbeing."[22]
On 9 November 2017,Alun Michael,Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales and formerFirst Secretary, askedCarwyn Jones, thenFirst Minister of Wales, to set out the allegations made against Carl Sargeant.[23] Former ministerLeighton Andrews said that in earlier years Sargeant had been the target of bullying and disinformation in the Assembly which had placed "a strain on his and others' mental health," and that this was known to Jones.[24]UK Independence Party Welsh Assembly memberNeil Hamilton called for Jones to resign over the matter, saying that the suspension of Sargeant was both "heartless and in breach of the most fundamental principle of natural justice – giving the accused the right to defend himself."[25]
Sargeant's family called for a public inquiry into the way he had been treated. In a statement on 9 November, First Minister Jones said that, once he had received allegations regarding inappropriate touching or groping by Sargeant, he had had no alternative but to dismiss him.[26] The following day, Jones announced that an independent inquiry into his actions would take place.[27]
Sargeant's death triggered the2018 Alyn and Deeside by-election for his seat which was held on 6 February 2018.[28] Sargeant's sonJack was selected as the Labour candidate,[28] and was elected to the seat.[29]
On 21 April 2018, Carwyn Jones said at the Welsh Labour conference inLlandudno that he would stand down as First Minister by the end of the year, saying that he had been through the "darkest of times" since Sargeant's death.[30]
On 21 April 2020, the independent investigation was called off. The investigation stalled after the family of Sargeant, unhappy at the format, began legal action. A High Court judge found it was unlawful that Jones had made decisions on the probe.[31]
| Senedd | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Assembly Member forAlyn and Deeside 2003–2017 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| New post | Deputy Minister for Assembly Business and Chief Whip 31 May 2007 to 19 July 2007 | post abolished |
| Preceded by Carl Sargeant | Chief Whip 2007–2009 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister for Social Justice andLocal Government 2009–2011 | post-reorganised |
| New post | Minister for Local Government and Communities 2011–2013 | post-reorganised |
| New post | Minister for Natural Resources 2013–2016 | post-reorganised |
| Preceded by | Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children 2016–2017 | post-reorganised |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
