Reports have emerged suggesting that Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd MS James Evans may be preparing to leave Reform UK and rejoin the Welsh Conservative Party.
The allegations surfaced after Nation.Cymru contacted the Conservative Senedd group with information obtained from a source within a Reform Wales branch.
According to this individual, Evans engaged in discussions with Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar regarding a potential return to the party he departed nine months ago.
When approached for clarification, a Conservative spokesperson declined to elaborate on the matter.
The representative stated that private conversations with other political groups would not be discussed.
Evans has categorically refuted the claims, though he opted not to provide an official comment to this publication.
The 35-year-old politician, who secured election to the Senedd in 2021 representing the Welsh Conservatives, departed the party in January 2026 after Darren Millar removed the whip and dismissed him from the shadow cabinet.
The dismissal followed Evans’ admission that he had conducted talks with Reform UK about defecting.
Prior to officially joining Reform UK, Evans served as an independent Member of the Senedd.
Upon his re-election to the Senedd under Reform UK colours in May, Evans received appointment as shadow minister for health, prevention and sport.
This portfolio aligned with the responsibilities he had previously held during his time with the Welsh Conservatives.
However, when Dan Thomas stepped back from the leadership following his arrest and returned to the backbenches, incoming Welsh Reform leader Helen Jenner declined to offer Evans a position on the front bench.
In a post published to X approximately two hours after this publication requested his response to the defection speculation, Evans launched a scathing attack on the Conservative Party.
The message contained criticism of Conservative governance over the preceding fourteen years, including references to decisions regarding the Armed Forces, Brexit implementation, border control, welfare expenditure and agricultural policy.
The post also referenced potential cooperation between the Conservatives and Plaid Cymru, describing the latter as a party seeking constitutional changes to the United Kingdom.
Questions have reportedly flooded the Welsh Conservative Senedd group office regarding multiple Reform UK Members, with speculation circulating in Cardiff Bay that one of the party’s representatives might be preparing to switch allegiance.
Sources indicate dissatisfaction exists among certain Conservative members regarding whether Darren Millar should permit politicians who previously left the party to rejoin the Senedd group.
Reform UK’s current Senedd representation includes several former Conservatives.
Laura Ann Jones serves as Sir Fynwy Torfaen MS, while Dan Thomas previously held the position of Welsh party leader.
Francesca O’Brien represents Gŵyr Abertawe in the parliament.
Some within Conservative circles have expressed the view that Millar should block any readmission of those who abandoned the party.
Evans has recently indicated that family considerations will prevent his participation in the next Senedd election scheduled for 2030, preferring to focus on personal life rather than seeking re-election.
He has stated that he will instead focus on developing national policy across the DEFRA brief within Reform UK.