Sickness question over Richards' future

Rod Richards is considering whether to seek re-election

Former Welsh Conservative leader Rod Richards is on indefinite sick leave from the Welsh Assembly, it has been revealed.

The North Wales Assembly member - who has admitted to having a drink problem - has been away from the chamber in Cardiff Bay for more than a month.

I can't say when he may be back - he wants to be sure he is 100% and is taking the time to do that

Spokesman for Rod Richards at the Welsh Assembly

Mr Richards, 55, who sits as an independent after being expelled from the Tory group, is considering whether to stand in the assembly election in May 2003.

But speaking of his absence, he said: "This is obviously a private matter - I can't say at this moment in time how long it may be before I return."

It is the lowest point yet in a dramatic fall from grace for the former government minister.

Dubbed The Rottweiler by political opponents, the combative right-winger served as a junior minister at the Welsh Office and MP for Clwyd North West.

Mr Richards was cleared of assaulting a young woman

He resigned his ministerial post in 1996 after press revelations about his private life and lost his seat in the Labour landslide at the 1997 general election.

In a remarkable comeback, Mr Richards was elected to the assembly in May 1999.

He beat Nick Bourne to the post of Conservative group leader in a ballot of rank-and-file members.

But in August 1999 Mr Richards resigned as leader after being charged with assault on a young woman he met in a London bar.

He was later acquitted at a trial, but his subsequent attempts to be approved as a Tory candidate for the 2001 general election and the 2003 assembly poll were rejected.

Nick Bourne took over as Conservative group leader

The former minister was also expelled from the Conservative group in the assembly for abstaining in a key budget vote.

In December 2001, Mr Richards was taken to hospital after being found collapsed and drunk in a Cardiff park.

Speaking in February, he said he was taking medication for his alcohol problems.

"I have been off the drink for six weeks, and I don't smoke now either," he said at the time.

He added that his biggest problem was coping with anger: "It requires a lot of effort."

An aide at Mr Richards' office in the assembly said on Monday: "He is off work sick at the moment.

"I can't say when he may be back - he wants to be sure he is 100% and is taking the time to do that."