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Carl Sargeant's family have paid tribute to him as "the glue that bound us together" after he was found dead today.

The married father of two was found dead at around 11.30am this morning at the family home in Connah's Quay and is believed to have taken his own life.

In an emotional statement his wife Bernie and children Lucy and Jack said they were "devastated beyond words".

“He wasn’t simply a part of our family. He was the glue that bound us together.

“He was the heart of our family. We loved him so very much.

(Image: Western Mail) (Image: Daily Mirror) (Image: PA)

“We are devastated beyond words, and we know our grief will be shared by all those who knew and loved him.

“We are in shock and grief. We ask that our privacy is respected at this time.”

Their grief was echoed by friends and colleagues both in Cardiff Bay and Westminster who paid tribute to the 49-year-old.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the politician's death was "terrible and deeply shocking news".

He said: “My thoughts and profound sympathy are with Carl’s family, friends and colleagues.”

While his deputy Tom Watson, a friend of Mr Sargeant, described the death as a "tragedy beyond words".

(Image: PA) (Image: Welsh Government)

"I campaigned with Carl for many years. He was a powerful voice for working people and Wales.

"He put community at the heart of his politics and was respected by his constituents for it.

"My love and prayers are with Carl’s family today."

First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones said: "Carl was a friend as well as a colleague and I am shocked and deeply saddened by his death.

"He made a big contribution to Welsh public life and fought tirelessly for those he represented both as a minister and as a local assembly member.

"He will be a great loss both to our party and to the Senedd."

Elin Jones, assembly presiding officer, said she was "deeply shocked and saddened".

She said Mr Sargeant "served the people of Alyn and Deeside with pride and determination and he made an enormous contribution to the development of this democratic institution".

"On behalf of all the members and those who work at the National Assembly for Wales, I would like to express my deepest sympathy to his family and colleagues," she added.

(Image: South Wales Echo)

She explained that the Welsh Assembly was being suspended today as a "mark of respect".

"We will all want to gather our thoughts before paying proper tribute to him over the coming days," she said.

Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies said: "Our Parliament has lost a stalwart and many of us have lost a friend."

Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns said: "I am shocked and saddened by the tragic news of the death of Carl Sargeant.

"My heart goes out to his family, friends and colleagues."

Plaid Cymru Leader Leanne Wood said: "Carl Sargeant made a significant contribution to Welsh politics, both as an Assembly Member and a government minister.

"On behalf of Plaid Cymru, I send our deepest sympathies to his family, friends and colleagues at this difficult time."

MP for Wrexham Ian Lucas said: "I am absolutely devastated at the death of my friend Carl Sargeant. My thoughts are with his family."

Sargeant was suspended on November 3 after what he described as "shocking and distressing" allegations, and was suspended by the Labour party.

The married father of two had said he resigned from his cabinet position as secretary for communities and children to clear his name, but Labour said he had been sacked.

In a statement on Twitter Sargeant said: "I met with the First Minister today and he informed me allegations had been made about my personal conduct, which was shocking and distressing to me.

"The details of the allegations have yet to be disclosed to me.

"I have written to the General Secretary of Welsh Labour requesting an urgent independent investigation into these allegations in order to allow me to clear my name.

"Given the nature of the allegations, I agreed with the First Minister that it was right that I stand aside from cabinet today. I look forward to returning to Government once my name has been cleared."

First Minister and Welsh Labour leader Carwyn Jones said: “Carl was a friend as well as a colleague and I am shocked and deeply saddened by his death. He made a big contribution to Welsh public life and fought tirelessly for those he represented both as a Minister and as a local Assembly Member.

“He will be a great loss both to our party and to the Senedd. My heartfelt sympathies are with his family at this difficult time.”