A top Labour politician is believed to have killed himself days after he was sacked by the Welsh government and suspended by his party over ‘shocking’ claims of sexual misconduct made by three women.
Former minister Carl Sargeant, 48, was found dead at home in Connah’s Quay, North Wales, at 11.30am today and police say they are not treating it as suspicious.
His wife Bernie, 48, and children Jack, 23, and Lucy, 25, said they are ‘devastated beyond words’ because the family have lost ‘the glue that bound us together’.
Mr Sargeant was sacked by Carwyn Jones on Friday after three women contacted the First Minister’s office and made allegations of sexual misconduct.
The father-of-two was in New York with his wife of 25 years when it emerged and he had pledged ‘to clear my name’ in a statement four days before his death.
Labour has not detailed the allegations but the under fire politician had himself described them as ‘shocking and distressing.”
Police and paramedics were called to his North Wales former council house this morning and he was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was removed by private ambulance this afternoon.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said his death was ‘terrible and deeply shocking news’, adding: “All allegations [of sexual misconduct] must be examined but there also has to be great care for everybody involved in these accusations.”
Labour sources have said that hours before his death he had told friends he was still unaware what the claims were because party officials refused to tell him. Mr Sargeant had not been arrested, MailOnline understands.
Mr Sargeant was a “much loved husband, father and friend,” a statement released by his family said after his death was announced this afternoon.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (pictured at the CBI yesterday) described the death as ‘terrible and deeply shocking news’
‘Carl was a much loved husband, father and friend. He wasn’t simply a part of our family. He was the glue that bound us together. He was the heart of our family. We loved him so very much,’ it said.
“He was the most kind and caring husband, father, son and friend.
‘We are devastated beyond words, and we know our grief will be shared by all those who knew and loved him. We are in shock and grief’.
Family members hugged each other on the drive of the mid-terrace former council house where Mr Sargeant lived, round the corner from the school where his wife works as a teaching assistant, as a black private ambulance left the property, guarded by police.
A neighbour across the road from his home, who did not want to be named, said: ‘He’s got a wife and children over there, my heart goes out to them, it’s shocking.
“I’ve known him since being a child. He would be going about canvassing with the local MPs and that type of stuff.
“He’s a man who still lives in an ex-council house, he’s down to earth and a family man. What happened to innocent until proven guilty?”
