Welsh Assembly Member James Evans Defects to Reform UK After Prior Criticism
A former Conservative member of the Welsh Senedd, James Evans, has joined Reform UK, a move that comes after he publicly criticized the party and its initial member, Laura Anne Jones, for a lack of principle. The defection, announced today, marks a significant shift for Evans, who previously questioned the credibility of Reform UK.
Evans’s decision follows that of Laura Anne Jones, who left the Conservatives in July and was subsequently unveiled as Reform UK’s first Senedd member by Nigel Farage. At the time, Evans expressed strong disapproval of Jones’s move.
“Laura and I have spoken, and I’ve made my opinions very clear. I don’t think she’s made the right decision,” Evans told Radio Wales Breakfast in July. He further emphasized his belief that elected officials have a duty to fulfill their term under the banner of the party that secured their election. “I am a firm believer, if you are elected as a Conservative member of the Senedd, you owe it to the electorate, you owe it to your party, to see your term of office out as a Conservative.”
Evans was particularly scathing in his assessment of Jones’s decision to join Reform UK, stating, “Jumping to Reform, it seems that she doesn’t have any principles.” He also dismissed Reform UK as a viable political force, adding, “They’re not a credible option and they’re not a credible party.”
Now, Evans joins Jones as a Reform UK Member of the Senedd (MS), a development that underscores the evolving political landscape in Wales and raises questions about the future direction of the Welsh Conservatives. The swift change in position highlights the increasing appeal of Reform UK, despite previous dismissals from within the Conservative ranks.
