Carl Sargeant, a Welsh politician who resigned from his post in the Welsh Government last week after allegations of sexual misconduct, has died suddenly, British authorities say.

Many British news organisations reported, without citing sources, that he had taken his own life.

Police said his death was not being treated as suspicious and had been referred to the coroner, a statement often used when a suicide has occurred.

The 49-year-old politician's body was found at his home in Wales shortly before noon on Tuesday (local time), authorities said.

Sargeant, a member of the Labour Party, was one of a number of political figures caught up in a sexual harassment scandal roiling British politics.

He resigned from his Welsh Cabinet post on Friday after misconduct allegations were made by more than one woman — no details about the allegations were immediately available.

The family of Mr Sargeant said overnight that said they were "devastated beyond words" by his death.

Superintendent Mark Pierce of North Wales Police said Mr Sargeant's family has requested privacy — he said the death was not suspicious.

Mr Sargeant was a member of the Welsh Assembly and also had held a Cabinet post before the misconduct complaints surfaced — he was married with two children.

"Carl was a much loved husband, father and friend," the family said in a statement.

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

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said Mr Sargeant's death was "terrible and deeply shocking".

Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones, who had been involved in the initial inquiry, said his office had spoken to the women affected by the misconduct allegations and concluded there was no choice but to refer it to the party for inquiry.

Mr Sargeant had told local media earlier this week that he wanted an urgent investigation into the allegations "in order to allow me to clear my name".

AP/Reuters