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David DeansWales political reporter
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James Evans has been sacked from the shadow cabinet and had the whip withdrawn making him an independent, Tory Senedd leader Darren Millar said.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Evans confirmed in a statement that he was being ousted from the party which he said no longer represents his values.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He added: “I have been concerned for some time over the direction of the Conservative party at a UK level and I feel it no longer represents my conservative values and beliefs.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 in a statement that Evans had been unable to give him 100% commitment to the party.
Speaking to BBC Wales, Millar said: “I was very disappointed and I have to say I feel let down.”
He said Badenoch “fully supports my decision”.
Evans sat as an independent for the first time at first minister’s questions in the Senedd later on Tuesday.
In a jibe at his expense, First Minister Eluned Morgan told Millar there was “more infighting in your party than the Beckham family” and said Reform was full of “failed Tories”.
Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth mocked Evans for “flirting with a party he once called unserious with dangerous rhetoric”.
Evans’s sacking followed months of rumours, previously denied by him, that he was interested in joining Nigel Farage’s Reform.
He 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.
Evans openly criticised Kemi Badenoch at the weekend for disagreeing with Robert Jenrick’s assessment that Britain is broken, following Jenrick’s sacking over his own plans to defect to Reform.
Evans told the BBC’s Politics Wales programme on Sunday: “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”.
Analysis
The decision to kick James Evans out of the Conservative party has left the Tories with 13 MSs – exactly the same number as Plaid Cymru.
That fact won’t have a huge impact on day-to-day politics in Cardiff Bay. But it is more a symptom of the rift happening in the right of British politics – and the debate on where its future lies. It was not a massive surprise.
We are yet to know if Evans will join Reform, but Conservatives will tell you how many of their friends in the party have already made the switch, and how selections for the Senedd have been difficult.
The party was demoralised by the drubbing it received in the 2024 general election. Opinion polling for Wales suggest it is not competing to win next May’s election, while Reform is.
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
