Davies faces constituency party

Davies faces constituency party

Mr Davies denies the allegations

Labour officials in Caerphilly will meet the former Welsh secretary Ron Davies on Friday to ask him why he changed his story after newspaper allegations about his private life.

The Caerphilly AM, who talked to Welsh Labour party chiefs on Thursday, is still determined to stand in May's Welsh Assembly elections, despite calls for him to resign.

Earlier this week, a tabloid newspaper claimed Mr Davies had sex with a male stranger in public woodland.

Initially, Mr Davies denied being anywhere near the Bath picnic area The Sun claimed he used for a sex act with a man - but he later admitted he had gone for a short walk in the area.

Badgers

In a BBC Wales interview on Thursday, Mr Davies, who denies the allegation, said he had visited the beauty spot before, to watch badgers.

I think we have to wait and find out exactly what the truth is and then judge

Jane Davidson, Education Minister

With growing pressure on Mr Davies - the "architect of Welsh devolution" - to resign, Friday's meeting at 1730 GMT is likely to prove crucial to his political future.

On Thursday night, Assembly Education Minister Jane Davidson spoke on the BBC Wales' People's Assembly to warn against people making hurried decisions.

"I think we have to wait and find out exactly what the truth is and then judge," she said.

UNFOLDING EVENTS

Tuesday:

The Sun prints photos claiming Mr Davies had gay sex in woods near Bath on Monday.

He denies being anywhere near the location.
Wednesday:

The Sun prints timings of alleged incident and new photos.

Mr Davies admits he did stop at the site, but again denies sex claim.

Support for the Caerphilly AM mixed amongst local members.
Thursday:

Mr Davies meets Wales Labour Party boss to explain reports.
Friday:

Faces Caerphilly Labour chiefs at 1730 GMT.

But some party members have already made up their minds.

Mel Mayo, a member of the Bargoed Labour club, said Mr Davies was a disgrace to the Labour party and to the Rhymney Valley.

"It is a shame Mr Davies did not honour and respect the people who voted for him - I think he should step down," he said.

There is also pressure on Mr Davies from within the Labour party, with one senior Labour MP anonymously saying: "Enough is enough."

"The most important people are his constituency Labour Party.

"They've suffered enough and deserve someone better," said the MP.

'Concern'

Caerphilly constituency party chairman Jeff Cuthbert said Mr Davies' apparent change of story was "a matter of concern" and.

"We cannot deny this incident is not going to have a significant impact," he said.

Mr Cuthbert added that the repercussions of the incident would be discussed at the meeting with Mr Davies.

He said the local party should have reached "some form of decision" about what they think Mr Davies' future should be by the end of the meeting.

Deliberations are made urgent by the fact that nominations to be an assembly candidate close on 1 April.

Altered

Mr Davies continues to deny claims he engaged in a sex act at the Tog Hill site on Monday morning when he stopped en route to delivering a talk in London.

He left the front line after earlier revelations

But the fact he altered his statement has now become the main issue.

Mr Davies met Wales Labour Party General Secretary Jessica Morden and two executive officers on Thursday.

"Both sides have now agreed to reflect on what was said over the next few days to reach a conclusion," a party statement said after the meeting.

Labour's Welsh Secretary Peter Hain said: "This is a very sad situation and there has to be closure on it soon for the good of the labour party and for Ron's own good in the future, and I hope that will happen."

In 1998, Mr Davies was forced to resign from his post as Secretary of State for Wales following a "moment of madness" on Clapham Common.

Shortly afterwards he admitted to being bisexual and had psychiatric treatment for a compulsive disorder which attracted him to high-risk situations.