[2] Labour's election manifesto included a commitment to hold a devolution referendum in Wales to determine whether to establish a devolved Welsh assembly.

[4] As Labour was expected to win the most seats in the first election to the assembly, scheduled for May 1999, its leader in Wales would likely become the inaugural first secretary.

Davies won the election but had to resign shortly after when he was involved in an alleged gay sex scandal in Clapham Common.

[7] This appointment was made to prevent Morgan, who had a long-held ambition to lead the assembly,[8] from becoming Labour's leader in Wales.

A third candidate, Swansea-based businessman and lawyer, Roger Warren Evans announced his intention to run saying he would be the party's "rank and file" representative,[10] although ultimately he didn't stand.