First Minister of Wales set to be investigated over bullying claims after suicide of Carl Sargeant

THE FIRST Minister of Wales will be investigated over claims his office had a bullying culture in the run-up to the death of Labour politician Carl Sargeant, he announced today.

Carwyn Jones referred himself to a new independent watchdog following allegations he has broken the ministerial code.

The First Minister has been accused of fostering a “toxic” atmosphere which saw some people singled out for mistreatment.

The claims arose after ex-minister Carl Sargeant killed himself while under investigation for allegedly harassing multiple women.

Mr Jones has come under heavy criticism for sacking Mr Sargeant and suspending him from Labour without giving him full details of the accusations made against him.

An independent investigation has already been launched into the circumstances of his suicide, after his relatives expressed anger with the First Minister’s handling of the case.

Today Mr Jones announced that he was setting up a new procedure which will enable a watchdog to probe whether his behaviour breaches the ministerial code.

He said in a statement that James Hamilton, an adviser to the Scottish government, would lead the investigation into his conduct.

Mr Jones faced calls to quit after he sacked Mr Sargeant and then spoke publicly about the case while the allegations against the ex-minister were still unproven.

But he defied his critics and insisted he handled the accusations against Mr Sargeant correctly.

Friends of the tragic politician say there was a culture of bullying in Mr Jones’s office, with even senior figures undermined by aides who would seek to drive them out of government.

The First Minister claims no complaints about the alleged bullying were ever made to him.