Tory kicked out of party for ‘talking to Reform’

A prominent Welsh Conservative is being kicked out of the party for telling its leader he was thinking about defecting to Reform UK.

James Evans has been sacked from the shadow cabinet and had the whip withdrawn making him an independent, Tory Senedd leader Darren Millar said.

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.

Evans confirmed in a statement that he was being ousted from the party which he said no longer represents his values. Reform has been asked to comment.

BBC Wales understands the process is under way to remove Evans’ party membership.

Speculation was heightened that Evans could defect following a BBC interview on Sunday, where he criticised UK party leader Kemi Badenoch and refused to say if he had spoken to Reform.

He also edited a Facebook post on Monday to remove a reference to his party.

His role as the Tory shadow health secretary saw him commentate on the Welsh government’s approach to the NHS on behalf of his party.

“I will take some time in the coming weeks to consider my political future,” said Evans, who represents Brecon and Radnorshire in the Senedd.

He added: “I have been concerned for some time over the direction of the Conservative party at a UK level and I feel it no longer represents my conservative values and beliefs.

“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.”

Millar said: “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.

Speaking to BBC Wales, he said: “I was very disappointed and I have to say I feel let down.”

He said Badenoch “fully supports my decision”.

Evans’s sacking followed months of rumours that he was interested in joining Nigel Farage’s Reform, something he had denied for most of 2025.

The Member of the Senedd (MS) accused his Senedd Tory colleague Laura Anne Jones of having no principles when she joined Reform in the summer.

He also said Farage will “say anything to get a vote” in a Cardiff Bay debate in 2025.

It comes less than a week after former shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick joined Reform after being sacked by Badenoch.

At the weekend, Evans openly criticised Badenoch for disagreeing with Jenrick’s assessment that Britain is broken.

Speaking on the BBC’s Politics Wales programme, he said: “We have to take some level of responsibility for the mess this country is in.”

He said: “Kemi should reflect on that comment because I don’t think that’s the comment that is being made by the majority of people who support the Conservative Party across the country.”

He refused to engage with questions of whether he was going to follow his “very strongly principled friend” Jenrick and defect, saying he didn’t want to get involved in a political “melodrama”.

Asked whether he had spoken with Reform about joining the party, he said: “I’m not getting into what conversations I’ve had.”

Evans will now no longer be standing for the Tories in the Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd seat for the Senedd election on 7 May.

It’s expected that the number two on the party list, Rosemarie Harris, will take his place.

Welsh Labour said: “Wales is proud of its recycling record, but Reform really are proving themselves to be the biggest recycler of Tories.”

Liberal Democrat MP David Chadwick, accused the Tories of being in “complete disarray”.

Meanwhile a Plaid spokesperson said if Evans joins Reform “this is further proof that Reform are just a bunch of ex-Tories who prioritise their careers over solving the issues facing communities across Wales”.

In February, BBC Wales is holding a live debate in Aberystwyth with a panel of politicians ahead of the Senedd election. Click below to apply to be in the audience