Diolch, Llywydd. Carl Sargeant, Assembly Member for Alyn and Deeside was my friend, is my friend, and will forever be my friend. No words are sad enough to express his loss. To Bernie, Carl's wife, and to Jack and Lucy, his son and daughter, I want you to know that you do not walk alone. There are many Members of this National Assembly for Wales who loved and respected Carl. As a proud feminist, I want it stated on the record that no other Assembly Member, in the two decades of Welsh devolution, has been as passionate to champion the progress of women's and children's rights and causes through legislation than Carl Sargeant. One of Wales's prominent reporters, Martin Shipton, noted that, as Minister for social justice, he became known as champion of equality and women's rights and backed a succession of initiatives aimed at tackling domestic violence.

Carl, a friend to me, but also a friend to the people that I represent, the people of Islwyn. Carl was the genuine article; an authentic, working-class politician, he did speak the language of the man and woman on the street. And when he visited Islwyn, the affection was obvious. His exuberance and sheer decency was evident to all that met him. Carl was truly the antithesis of the polished, plastic politician. And as a proud candidate for Islwyn, I wondered, when I met him for the first time, what on earth had arrived when I saw him. I was greeted by a large man, in a dark grey jumper with a hole in it, that had seen better days. Later, I realised that he and his close colleague Ken Skates had been working tirelessly, touring the length and breadth of our country together, fighting for the next Labour Government. The genuine article. 

And in May 2016, when I became an AM, nobody was more accommodating, friendly and keen to make sure that I settled into life in the Senedd than Carl. He was a gifted negotiator and communicator. He was not conceited or proud, but a humble man, generous in spirit, and—rare in politics—Carl did bring a smile into the room that would often end in laughter, whatever important issues he was progressing.

I know my Labour predecessors, Islwyn Assembly Members, Irene James and Gwyn Price, stand with me and the people of Islwyn in regarding Carl Sargeant as a true comrade. We grieve for him today. And it is almost unbearable to believe that he died not knowing how much we loved and respected him, and for that I am truly sad.

Carl was a man of all occasions: the people's view of what a politician should be, not just a people's person, but the people's politician; a socialist, who never forgot his roots, or his community that he so loved.

Carl, I counted you as my friend, and this place will never for me be the same without your presence. Your progressive and innovative legislative legacy, and your memory, will remain to inspire and motivate us all to make a better Wales, a better society. And, at this bleakest of times, I remember the words of Louise Haskins:

'Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.'

You are not alone; we stand with you. And, Carl, we deeply mourn your passing. Diolch.