James Evans - Member of the Senedd for Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd | Reform Watch

MS James Evans joins Reform UK amid past criticism of party

5 March 2026

Category: ethics violation

According to the Brecon & Radnor Express, James Evans joined Reform UK at a party conference in Newport on 5 February 2026, where he was welcomed to the lectern by party leader Nigel Farage. The article reports Mr Evans was sacked by the Conservatives in January amid suspicions he was planning to defect and subsequently sat as an independent MS before joining Reform UK. The same report notes Mr Evans had publicly criticised Reform UK in the past, saying it “does not have a plan for Wales,” and includes his statement that he had criticised the party previously but reassessed his view. Speaking to BBC Wales, First Minister Eluned Morgan is reported to have described Reform UK as “absolutely packed with Tories jumping ship… trying to save their own skins.”