A prominent Welsh Conservative is being kicked out of the party for telling its leader he was thinking about defecting to Reform UK.<\/p>\n
James Evans has been removed from the shadow cabinet and had the whip withdrawn making him an independent, Welsh Tory leader Darren Millar said.<\/p>\n
Millar said he did so on Tuesday morning “after being informed by James that he was continuing to engage with Reform representatives about the possibility of defecting” despite giving “personal assurances” on Friday that he had rejected an approach.<\/p>\n
In a statement, Evans confirmed he was being ousted from the party which he said no longer represents his values.<\/p>\n
BBC Wales understands the process is underway to remove Evans’ party membership. <\/p>\n
Speculation has been heightened that Evans could defect following a BBC interview<\/a> on Sunday, where he criticised UK party leader Kemi Badenoch and declined to say if he had spoken to Reform.<\/p>\n He also edited a Facebook post on Monday to remove a reference to his party.<\/p>\n “I will take some time in the coming weeks to consider my political future,” said Evans, who represents Brecon and Radnorshire in the Senedd.<\/p>\n He added: “I have been concerned for some time over the direction of the Conservative party at a UK level and I feel it no longer represents my conservative values and beliefs. <\/p>\n “Politics should be a broad church of views and opinions, and it is a sad day when the party does not allow free speech or criticism.”<\/p>\n In a statement, Millar said he took the decision to strip Evans of his job as shadow health secretary on Tuesday morning.<\/p>\n “I expect all Welsh Conservative MSs and candidates to be 100% committed to our party and our plan to fix Wales. Regrettably, James was unable to give me that commitment,” he said.<\/p>\n Evans’ sacking followed months of rumours and claims that Evans was interested in joining Nigel Farage’s Reform, something he had denied for most of 2025.<\/p>\n The Member of the Senedd (MS) accused his Senedd Tory colleague Laura Anne Jones of having no principles<\/a> when she joined Reform in the summer.<\/p>\n He also said Farage will “say anything to get a vote” in a Cardiff Bay debate in 2025.<\/p>\n