Carwyn Jones considered quitting over Carl Sargeant death - BBC News
Outgoing First Minister Carwyn Jones admits he thought about resigning after Carl Sargeant's death.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. 'In this job sometimes things get very difficult. That doesn't mean you should run away from them', he said

Carwyn Jones considered resigning as first minister after Carl Sargeant's death, he has revealed.

Mr Sargeant was found dead in his home in November 2017, days after being fired from Mr Jones' cabinet over claims of inappropriate behaviour towards women.

An inquest into his death was adjourned last week and a QC-led inquiry into the handling of the case is due in 2019.

Mr Jones is standing down as first minister on Tuesday after nine years.

Despite intense scrutiny of his actions since the death, Mr Jones has always denied he considered quitting at the time, until now.

Mr Jones made the revelation in a BBC One Wales documentary, Being First Minister, to be broadcast on Monday, 24 hours before he steps down from the role.

"It was so intense I thought - well - the only way this is going to stop, is if I go," he said.

"If I'd have resigned a few days afterwards, it would have looked as if I was accepting blame. I couldn't do that. I couldn't do that."

Mr Jones announced last April he would stand down and Mark Drakeford, who won the Welsh Labour leadership contest last week, is set to take over on Wednesday.

Carl Sargeant's conduct was under investigation when he was found dead at his home

In the documentary, Mr Jones also discussed the impact Mr Sargeant's death has had on him.

"There's not been a day since Carl died that I haven't thought of it," he added.

"It does chip away at you. And you do then find yourself going down in terms of your mood. It's inevitable.

"It does affect the way you see the world - you wouldn't be human otherwise."

Mr Jones' wife Lisa said: "Carl has been the biggest challenge for him. I've seen what it's done to Carwyn and it's been horrible.

"It's put him in a terrible, terrible place. I've never seen him as low as that."

Being First Minister, BBC One Wales, Monday at 21:00 GMT