Welsh Labour's Carl Sargeant, who faced a party investigation into allegations about his personal conduct, has died.
The Alun and Deeside AM had lost his ministerial job as cabinet secretary for communities and children last week.
It is understood that Mr Sargeant, 49, was found at his home in Connah's Quay, north Wales, at 11.30am today.
A family statement said his relatives were "devastated beyond words" at the loss of "the glue that bound us together".
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the death was "terrible and deeply shocking news".
First Minister 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."
Mr Sargeant was married and had two children.
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