In a surprising move, the Welsh Conservative Party has removed James Evans from his position in the shadow cabinet and stripped him of the party whip, effectively making him an independent member. This drastic action comes after Evans reportedly engaged in discussions with representatives of the Reform UK party about the possibility of defecting.
Darren Millar, the Welsh Tory Senedd leader, stated that he took this decision on Tuesday morning “after being informed by James that he was continuing to engage with Reform representatives about the possibility of defecting to the party, despite his personal assurances on Friday that he had rejected an approach they initiated last week.”
In a statement, Evans confirmed his ousting from the party, stating that the Conservative Party “no longer represents [his] values.” He expressed concerns over the direction of the party at the UK level and lamented the lack of “free speech or criticism” within the party.
The move has sparked speculation about Evans’ political future, with the BBC reporting that the process to remove his party membership is now underway. Evans has indicated that he will take some time in the coming weeks to consider his next steps.
This incident comes as the Welsh Conservative Party seeks to present a united front and focus on its plans to “fix Wales.” Millar emphasized his expectation that all Welsh Conservative members and candidates be “100% committed” to the party and its agenda.
The Welsh Labour Party wasted no time in capitalizing on the situation, quipping that “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 also weighed in, accusing the Conservatives of being in “complete disarray.”
As the fallout from this decision continues to unfold, the Welsh political landscape is sure to be closely watched for any further developments in the ongoing tensions within the Conservative Party.
