AN INQUIRY into the circumstances around the death of former Welsh Government minister Carl Sargeant is to be launched.

The Labour AM was found dead at his north Wales home on Tuesday, November 7, just days after he was sacked from the Welsh Government cabinet and suspended from Labour after allegations arose about his conduct.

Following the death of the ex-minister his former colleague Leighton Andrews spoke out about “minor bullying, mind-games, power-games, favouritism, inconsistency of treatment to different ministers, deliberate personal undermining on occasion”.

And, following increasing pressure for a inquiry into the claims, the first minister's office confirmed today such an investigation would take place.

A spokesman for the first minister said Mr Jones "agrees that there should be an independent inquiry and it would be proper to ask a senior QC to lead that work."

"To ensure this happens separately from his office, the first minister has asked the permanent secretary to begin preparatory work for this inquiry, and to make contact with the family to discuss the terms of reference and the identity of the QC," he said.

He added it was expected the inquiry would not take place before an inquest had been held.

But, in a statement, Mr Sargeant’s family they were “concerned” Mr Jones had suggested the inquiry could not progress before the inquest was complete.

“The first minister will also know, as an experienced lawyer, that to announce and commence a full independent review and inquiry does not hinder the coroner’s inquest and would run alongside the coroner’s inquest in any event,” it said.

“He will know all the procedural issues that arise and that one does not prevent the other from taking place.

“An independent inquiry will ask all the questions that need to be asked and have not been answered, and will determine the reasons for the serious failing in following the correct procedures, practices and protocols, and the reasons for the complete abdication of responsibility and duty of care that was owed to Carl.

“We believe that a full independent inquiry must be established immediately.

“Its terms of reference, the appointment of the chair and secretariat must be undertaken by a body which is fully independent of the Welsh Government and in consultation with the family.”

The announcement came following calls for an investigation by leader of the Welsh Conservatives Andrew RT Davies and others.