From BBC

An ex-Welsh Labour minister who faced a party investigation into allegations about his personal conduct has taken his own life, BBC Wales understands.

Alyn and Deeside AM Carl Sargeant, 49, lost his ministerial job as cabinet secretary for communities and children last Friday.

A family statement said they were “devastated beyond words” at the loss of “the glue that bound us together”.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the death was “deeply shocking news”.

Mr Sargeant was married and had two children. The Welsh Assembly’s business for Tuesday has been cancelled as a mark of respect.

He was sacked from his Welsh Government job last Friday after allegations about his behaviour were passed to First Minister Carwyn Jones’s office.

Mr Jones had said on Monday that he had heard of a number of alleged incidents with women, and felt he had no choice but to refer the matter to the party.

Paying tribute, Mr Jones said: “Carl was a friend as well as a colleague and I am shocked and deeply saddened by his death.

“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.

“He will be a great loss both to our party and to the Senedd.”

Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns said he was “shocked and saddened” by the news, adding: “My heart goes out to his family, friends and colleagues.”

Tributes were paid across the assembly on Tuesday.

Elin Jones, assembly presiding officer, said Mr Sargeant “served the people of Alyn and Deeside with pride and determination” and that he had made an “enormous contribution to the development of this democratic institution”.

“On behalf of all the members and those who work at the National Assembly for Wales, I would like to express my deepest sympathy to his family and colleagues,” she added.

Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies said: “Our Parliament has lost a stalwart and many of us have lost a friend.”

Plaid Cymru Leader Leanne Wood said: “Carl Sargeant made a significant contribution to Welsh politics, both as an assembly member and a government minister.”

North Wales Police Supt Mark Pierce said police were called at about 11:30 GMT on Tuesday to a report that a man’s body had been found at an address in Connah’s Quay, Flintshire.

“The man has been formally identified as local AM Carl Sargeant. His next of kin have been informed and police are supporting the family,” he said.

“North Wales Police are not treating his death as suspicious and the matter has been referred to HM Coroner.”

IMAGES:

Police were called to an address in Connah’s Quay on Tuesday

Carl Sargeant was communities and children’s secretary until last Friday

For more on this story go to; http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-41904161