Calls for First Minister Jones to publish Permanent Secretary’s leak inquiry report
The Welsh Government has refused to publish an inquiry report that found there had been no prior “unauthorised disclosure by Welsh Government” of details pertaining to the Cabinet reshuffle in which Carl Sargeant was sacked.
A spokesperson for the Permanent Secretary, who undertook the inquiry, last night released a statement which confirmed the investigation had now finished.
Welsh Conservatives are now calling for the Permanent Secretary’s inquiry to be made public, claiming the statement “invites yet more speculation that someone within the First Minister’s office was authorised to leak information about the Cabinet reshuffle.”
Welsh Conservative leader, Andrew RT Davies, has tabled the following urgent question for the consideration of the Llywydd:
In light of the Permanent Secretary’s statement, will the First Minister reveal whether he or someone acting on his authority, authorised leaking of details about his Cabinet reshuffle prior to November 3rd?
Commenting, a spokesman for the Welsh Conservatives said:
“Far from putting this matter to rest, this statement invites yet more speculation that someone from within the First Minister’s office was authorised to leak information about the Cabinet reshuffle to a third party.
“To fully satisfy any concerns that remain over this investigation, the Permanent Secretary should release the report into the public domain, along with all the evidence which supported its conclusions, so that Assembly Members of all stripes can decide for themselves whether there’s a case to answer for here.
“If a leak was sanctioned then we need to understand why and by whom. We have now submitted an urgent question on this matter.”
