Ron Davies to leave politics

Mr Davies, who resigned from Tony Blair’s Cabinet in 1998, after his "moment of madness" on Clapham Common, a notorious gay haunt, will not stand for Labour at May’s Welsh Assembly elections.

He said he was confident he could have won the election but the controversy would have been "a distraction".

Mr Davies, 57, spent most of last week denying reports that appeared in the Sun newspaper that he took part in a gay sex act with a builder after luring him into bushes at a Somerset picnic area last Monday.

His story changed throughout the week - after saying he was nowhere near the area, he then said he did stop there to go to the toilet and for a walk. The following day, he said he had stopped to look at badgers.

Mr Davies, seen as one of the key architects of Welsh devolution, has been married three times and became a father for the second time on Valentine’s Day.

He announced his resignation after weekend talks with Labour Party officials.

Mr Davies told a press conference at the Welsh Assembly the last week had been "pretty horrific". He said he regretted his handling of the allegations and added: "I have become the centre yet again of a media maelstrom because of allegations about my private life. I have handled this not very well.

"In retrospect I should have handled it another way."

He added: "I don’t feel devastated, I feel badly bruised. This has taken a huge toll on me, physically, emotionally and mentally."

Mr Davies maintained that he had a lot of support from the party, and had been inundated with support from the public.

Jeff Cuthbert, the chairman of the Caerphilly constituency Labour Party, said he was not surprised by the decision. He described it as the right one for Mr Davies and the party. "It is sad that someone with such a distinguished career had to come to such an end," he added.

Peter Hain, the Welsh Secretary, said: "It’s a tragic end to an impressive political career."

Rhodri Morgan, Wales’ first minister, said: "I understand this has been a difficult time for Ron and I wish him and his family well for the future. We now move into overdrive to select a new candidate for Caerphilly."

Mr Davies resigned from the Cabinet in 1998, when he was robbed after agreeing to go for a meal with a stranger he met on Clapham Common, London. The incident cost him the chance of becoming the inaugural first secretary of the Welsh Assembly.

He later revealed he was bisexual and had undergone psychiatric treatment for a compulsive disorder which made him seek out high-risk situations.

That revelation cost him his role as the chairman of the Assembly’s economic development committee. He has since been a back-bencher.

Asked about his plans for the future, the former Welsh secretary replied: "I have other interests in my life. My love of nature - and of my community - is something that is there, and people know and understand that."

Mr Davies will remain an Assembly member until the election on 1 May.

Downfall: from denials to resignation

Tuesday, 4 March: The Sun reports that Ron Davies had been caught the previous day committing a sex act with a male builder, 48, in bushes near a lay-by in Tog Hill, north of Bath, Somerset. Mr Davies says the allegations were "completely false and without substance", claiming he drove to London that day and hadn’t been near Bath.

Wednesday, 5 March: The Sun accuses Mr Davies of lying, using pictures which it claims prove he was in the area.

Thursday, 6 March: Mr Davies says he did stop at Tog Hill, to go to the toilet, then a walk. He says he became conscious of being followed by two individuals, one of whom started talking to him while the other pulled out a camera to take photographs.

Friday, 7 March: The Sun reports that Mr Davies is familiar with Tog Hill because he claims to go badger-watching there. He is reported as saying: "I’ve actually been there watching badgers first thing in the morning. I know the area - it is very pleasant. I have stopped there two or three times." The chairman of a local badger-watching group says he does not know of any badger sett in the area.

Saturday, 8 March: Reports that police have launched an investigation into claims that Mr Davies participated in a gay sex act at Tog Hill. Sources say senior Welsh Labour party members had told Davies to resign at a meeting on Thursday.

Sunday 9 March: Mr Davies says he is resigning from political life.