Assembly Members to pay tribute to Carl Sargeant in the Senedd this afternoon

Assembly Members will today pay tribute to Alyn and Deeside AM Carl Sargeant, who died a week ago today.

Tributes will be paid at the Senedd from 12:30pm as assembly business resumes following Mr Sargeant’s death – the first to have taken place since his death.

Assembly business was suspended after the 49-year-old Alyn and Deeside AM was found dead at his Connah’s Quay home on Tuesday, November 7th.

AMs will begin with tributes to the late Communities Secretary in a session that is scheduled to begin 12.30pm. Following the tributes which are due to last an hour, there will be a 30-minute break before Plenary resumes with first minister’s questions.

First Minister Carwyn Jones has faced calls to resign over the way he has handled allegations and the subsequent dismissal of Mr Sargeant from his role in the cabinet.

In a statement last week Jones said he had “no alternative but to take the action that I did and I hope that people will understand that.”

Pressure grew on Jones last week after the family of Mr Sargeant raised concerns that he was not given the opportunity to defend himself and was not made fully aware of the allegations against him.

Last Friday it was confirmed that an independent inquiry into Mr Sargeant’s death would take place.

The tributes in the Senedd will be streamed live at senedd.tv – click here