Suspended Welsh politician found dead

Former Welsh government minister Carl Sargeant, who was suspended last week after allegations were made over his conduct with women, has been found dead, police said on Tuesday.

Sargeant, 49, a member of the opposition Welsh Labour Party, had said this week that he wanted an urgent investigation into the allegations “in order to allow me to clear my name.”

Police said Sargeant’s body was found at Connah’s Quay at approximately 11:30am and that they were not ?treating his death as suspicious.

Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones said in a statement: “Carl was a friend as well as a colleague and I am shocked and deeply saddened by his death.”

No further details were immediately available on the nature of Sargeant’s passing.

He was elected to the devolved Welsh Assembly in 2003 to represent Alyn and Deeside in northeast Wales and served as environment minister and Labour’s chief whip.

Britain’s national parliament at Westminster has been rocked in recent weeks by allegations of sexual harassment against lawmakers in several parties.