Welsh Government staff ‘asked to give Sargeant evidence to civil servants’
A leaked email has shown the Permanent Secretary instructing Welsh Government staff to share evidence for the Carl Sargeant inquiry with senior civil servants first.
Paul Bowen QC is investigating Carwyn Jones's handling of the sacking of the Alyn and Deeside AM from his cabinet and in an email to Welsh Government staff entitled "support to staff", the Permanent Secretary, Dame Shan Morgan, asks "those who believe they have evidence relevant to the investigation should bring this to the attention of David Richards, Director of Governance; Peter Kennedy, HR Director; or my office".
Questioning the Permanent Secretary’s latest involvement, Welsh Conservative leader, Andrew RT Davies said:
“This once again raises serious concerns over the conduct of the Welsh Government and calls into question the independence of this whole process.
“If the inquiry is to be fully independent then all potential evidence should be handed over to the QC leading the investigation, not pre-vetted by the Permanent Secretary or her minions.
“This latest communication shines a light into the dark tactics being deployed by certain individuals in the Welsh Government to influence and control the upcoming inquiry, and that is simply unacceptable.
“Carl Sargeant lost his life in incredibly tragic circumstances, and there is a responsibility on everyone involved to ensure this process is fully independent and transparent so that the family can find the answers they need to find peace with what has happened.
“The Welsh Government must apologise and immediately withdraw this instruction so people can provide evidence to the inquiry free from bully-boy tactics and intimidation.”
