Welsh Tory MS sacked over Reform defection suspicions hits back saying 'Britain is broken'

A Welsh Conservative has hit back after being stripped of the party whip, saying he was removed for "challenging the status quo" and speaking out about the state of the UK.

James Evans, MS for Brecon and Radnorshire and shadow cabinet secretary for health and social care in the Senedd, confirmed in a social media statement on Tuesday (January 20) that his Conservative Party membership had been withdrawn. Mr Evans said the decision followed his decision to "speak out", including discussions with Reform UK and his views on the condition of the country.

In full, Mr Evans said: "Today, the Conservative Party removed the whip from me and revoked my membership after more than 20+ years. This followed my decision to speak out and challenge the status quo.

"I was asked by the Chief Whip whether I had been in talks with Reform. I gave an honest answer and said that I had. Those discussions were mainly about the serious challenges our country faces and the need to ensure we do not end up with a hard left Plaid Cymru / Green Party coalition.

"The whip was removed primarily because I raised serious concerns about the refusal of the UK Conservative Party to recognise the reality that our country is broken.

"I believe Britain is broken. I was asked not to say this and instead to support a position that the UK is not broken. I could not, in all conscience, support a position that I believe is not true.

"I will be making a decision on my political future shortly, based on what is in the best interests of my family, my constituents and the people of Wales." 

His dismissal comes amid allegations that Mr Evans was "continuing to engage" with Reform representatives regarding the prospect of switching parties, despite giving assurances last Friday that he had rejected an approach from them.

Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar took to social media to announce Mr Evans' dismissal. "This morning, I took the decision to remove James Evans from the Welsh Conservative shadow cabinet and withdraw the Conservative whip," Mr Millar wrote. "I did so after being informed by James that he was continuing to engage with Reform representatives about the possibility of defecting to the party, in spite of his personal assurances on Friday that he had rejected an approach they initiated last week.

"Understandably, 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."

Reform currently has one Member of the Senedd following former Conservative Laura Anne Jones's defection in July. Mr Evans' removal comes after Tory leader Kemi Badenoch pre-emptively sacked her former shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick last week, hours before he became the most high-profile Tory figure to switch allegiance to Reform UK.

He was closely followed by Romford MP and ex-shadow foreign affairs minister Andrew Rosindell, who announced on Monday that he was also defecting to Nigel Farage's party.