Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones has confirmed he will not go to Carl Sargeant’s funeral to ‘respect the wishes’ of the family.
The funeral will be held tomorrow after Mr Sargeant appears to have taken his own life following his suspension by Labour over groping claims.
Mr Jones has faced calls to quit since Mr Sargeant’s death, with claims he failed to tackle a bullying culture in his office in the lead-up to the scandal.
Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones will not attend the funeral of Carl Sargeant, the minister who is understood to have taken his own life after he was suspended over groping claims
Mr Sargeant, 48, pictured with his wife Bernie, 48, and children Jack, 23, and Lucy, 25
It has now emerged that Mr Sergeant’s family do not want him to attend the funeral tomorrow.
Announcing that he and his wife will stay away, he said: ‘Lisa and I would have liked to attend the funeral on Friday to pay our respects to our friend.
‘However, we of course respect the wishes of the family at this time, and would hope they can celebrate Carl’s life in peace and without distraction.’
Former Welsh Assembly minister Mr Sargeant was found dead in an apparent suicide at his home in Connah’s Quay, north Wales, days after he was dismissed from the Welsh Government cabinet and was suspended by the Labour Party while complaints of inappropriate behaviour towards women were investigated.
Mr Sargeant’s son Jack told mourners attending the funeral that they need not wear traditional black or formal suits.
He said: ‘We want people to wear something that makes them feel happy and to come and remember dad as he was – kind, generous, and the life and soul of the party.’
Mr Sergeant was found dead at his home in north Wales after he was suspended by the party
Speaking on behalf of the family, Jack added: ‘We continue to be inundated with so many kind messages of support from across the UK.
‘Messages that have not only given us strength over recent days – but messages that have left us in no doubt as to the extent dad was loved and respected by those who knew him.
‘It has already been announced that dad will find rest on Friday, December 1. My mum Bernie, sister Lucy, and I have decided that day should be a celebration of dad’s life – not a day for mourning.
‘Everyone who knew dad will understand he wouldn’t want it any other way. He was never one for pomp.’
A formal inquiry has been announced into First Minister Carwyn Jones’ treatment of Mr Sargeant.
Jones claimed he had done everything ‘by the book’ but agreed to launch an independent inquiry.