James Evans (Welsh politician) explained

James Evans
Honorific-Suffix:MS
Office:Shadow minister for rural affairs
Leader:Andrew RT Davies
Termstart:18 April 2024
Predecessor:Samuel Kurtz
Office2:Shadow minister for mental health, wellbeing and Mid Wales
Leader2:Andrew RT Davies
Termstart2:27 May 2021
Termend2:18 April 2024
Predecessor2:David Melding
Office3:Member of the Senedd
for Brecon and Radnorshire
Majority3:3,820
Term Start3:7 May 2021
Predecessor3:Kirsty Williams
Office4:Powys county councillor for Gwernyfed ward
Termstart4:5 May 2017
Termend4:5 May 2022
Predecessor4:Geraint Hopkins
Successor4:William Lloyd
Birth Date:28 April
Birth Place:Brecon, Wales
Nationality:British
Party:Welsh Conservative
Occupation:Farmer

James Evans is a Welsh Conservative Party politician and farmer, who has served as the Member of the Senedd (MS) for Brecon and Radnorshire since the 2021 Senedd election. He previously served as councillor for Gwernyfed ward on Powys County Council.

Political career

James Evans had been elected to Powys County Council in 2017,[1] representing the Gwernyfed ward, and was cabinet member for economic development, housing and regulatory services. In 2018 he was criticised for retaining this cabinet role while in New Zealand on a National Farmers' Union scholarship to study deer farming and vension production.[2]

At the 2021 Senedd elections, Evans contested the Brecon and Radnorshire constituency and was elected, becoming the first Conservative MS for this constituency.[3] [4] He maintained his role as a councillor until the 2022 Powys County Council elections, which he did not contest.[5] Evans is a member of the Local Government and Housing Committee and the Wales COVID-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee.[6] He is a member of cross-party groups on armed forces and cadets, beer and pubs, horseracing, preventing child sexual abuse, rural growth, small shops, suicide prevention and tourism.

In 2023, Evans called for 'clear blue water' to be created between the Welsh Conservatives and the national Conservative Party, in reference to the clear red water approach taken by Welsh Labour.[7]

Evans is shadow minister for rural affairs since April 2024,[8] having previously served as shadow minister for mental health.[9]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Local Elections Archive Project — Gwernyfed Ward . 2024-05-16 . www.andrewteale.me.uk.
  2. News: 2018-12-18 . Powys councillor defends working from NZ for two months . 2024-05-16 . BBC News . en-GB . 16 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240516220850/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-46607083 . live .
  3. News: 8 May 2021 . Liberal Democrats nearly wiped out in Wales after losing only constituency seat to Conservatives . 8 May 2021 . ITV News . 8 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210508030451/https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2021-05-07/liberal-democrats-wiped-out-of-wales-after-losing-only-seat-to-conservatives . live .
  4. News: 7 May 2021 . Tory James Evans wins Brecon and Radnorshire seat as Lib Dem vote collapses . 7 May 2021 . The Brecon & Radnor Express.
  5. Web site: 2021-06-10 . Register of interests for James Evans MS . 2024-05-23 . business.senedd.wales . en-gb . 30 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220930155312/https://business.senedd.wales/mgDeclarationSubmission.aspx?UID=8585&HID=1354&FID=0&HPID=0 . live .
  6. Web site: James Evans MS . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240406020218/https://senedd.wales/people/james-evans-ms/ . 6 April 2024 . 2024-05-16 . senedd.wales . en-GB.
  7. Web site: Price . Emily . 2023-09-11 . 'I'm not a slave to Westminster': Tory MS talks to Nation.Cymru . 2024-05-23 . Nation.Cymru . en-GB.
  8. Web site: Price . Emily . 2024-04-18 . Welsh Conservatives reshuffle shadow cabinet . 2024-05-23 . Nation.Cymru . en-GB . 18 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240618195154/https://nation.cymru/news/welsh-conservatives-reshuffle-shadow-cabinet/ . live .
  9. Web site: Mansfield . Mark . 2023-06-25 . Welsh Government accused of 'passing the buck' over lack of specialist healthcare services . 2024-05-23 . Nation.Cymru . en-GB.