On 27 October 1998, Ron Davies mysteriously resigned as secretary of state for Wales. His sudden departure, the first from Tony Blair’s cabinet, was triggered by an undisclosed incident described by Davies himself as a “moment of madness”.

The “moment of madness” is said to have occurred late in the evening on 26 October. Davies said he agreed to go for a meal with a man he had met while walking near Clapham Common. He then picked up another man and a woman before driving to Brixton, where the three passengers turned on him, stealing his car, wallet and phone at knifepoint.

Davies, having steered the Government of Wales Act through parliament after the 1997 referendum, was poised to lead the new Welsh assembly. On 19 September 1998, just over a month before his ‘moment of madness’, Davies secured the Labour Party’s nomination for the post of first secretary, defeating his rival Rhodri Morgan with 68% of the vote.

Hailed as the “architect” of the National Assembly for Wales, Davies coined the famous phrase that “devolution is a process and not an event”.

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Davies resigned his cabinet post on 27 October.

In his letter of resignation, Davies said: “After driving back from Wales last night, I parked my car near to my home in south London.

“I went for a walk on Clapham Common. Whilst walking, I was approached by a man I have never met before who engaged me in conversation. After talking for some minutes, he asked me to accompany him and two of his friends to his flat for a meal.

“We drove in a car to collect his friends, one male, one female. Shortly afterwards, the man produced a knife and together with his male companion robbed me and stole my car, leaving me standing at the roadside.

“I reported this matter immediately to the police.”

Blair responded: “Given the situation, you described, I accept your decision to resign. I do so with a real sense of sadness. You have done an excellent job for the people of Wales, particularly in the way you have prepared for the establishment of the Welsh assembly.”

Alun Michael was appointed as the new secretary of state for Wales.

On 29 October, Davies stood down as the Labour nominee for the Welsh first secretary post.

In an interview at the time, he described the incident on 27 October as a “moment of madness”.

He said: “It was a moment of madness for which I have subsequently paid a very, very heavy price and I am deeply sorry. I bitterly regret it.”

He added: “I have a very long-term, loving, stable relationship with my wife, who has been marvellously supportive of me this week.”

Davies reportedly arrived at the interview with the word “sorry” written in block capitals and black ink on the back of his left hand.

Davies also denied the prime minister had pressured him into resigning. “Tony Blair was very, very supportive and understanding”, he said, “and I am deeply grateful for the way he has handled this matter as far as I am concerned.”

Alastair Campbell, the Downing Street press secretary, is said to have coined the phrase “moment of madness” and urged Davies to employ it.

Campbell’s diary entry for 27 October 1998 reads: “John Stevens, deputy commissioner at the Yard, said Ron Davies MP had been cruising on Clapham Common last night and had been picked up by a black male prostitute who later robbed him…

“We told TB [Tony Blair] what we knew. He looked surprised but not shocked and then, as I had, laughed. Bloody hell, he said.”

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Senedd Cymru

In June 1999, Davies said that he was undergoing treatment for a disorder which compels him to seek out “high-risk” situations.

In the 1999 Welsh Labour leadership contest, Alun Michael was elected as the party’s nominee for the position of first secretary in the new assembly.

Davies resigned from the Labour Party in 2004, having already stood down as an MP and member of the Welsh assembly.

He said of his decision: “I am disillusioned. I joined a left-of-centre party which is now right-of-centre which I find myself unable to accept.”

He joined Plaid Cymru in 2010 and stood as the party’s candidate in Caerphilly in the 2011 elections to the Welsh assembly.