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.
James Evans | |
|---|---|
 Evans in 2021 | |
| Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs | |
| Assumed office 18 April 2024 | |
| Leader | Andrew RT Davies |
| Preceded by | Samuel Kurtz[a] |
| Shadow Minister for Mental Health, Wellbeing and Mid Wales | |
| In office 27 May 2021 – 18 April 2024 | |
| Leader | Andrew RT Davies |
| Preceded by | David Melding[b] |
| Succeeded by | Gareth Davies (Mental Health) Paul Davies (Mid Wales) |
| Member of the Senedd for Brecon and Radnorshire | |
| Assumed office 7 May 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Kirsty Williams |
| Majority | 3,820 |
| Powys County Councillor for Gwernyfed ward | |
| In office 5 May 2017 – 5 May 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Geraint Hopkins |
| Succeeded by | William Lloyd |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 28 April Brecon, Wales |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Welsh Conservative |
| Occupation | Farmer |
Political career
editJames 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][6] Evans is a member of the Local Government and Housing Committee and the Wales COVID-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee.[7] 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.[7]
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.[8]
Evans is shadow minister for rural affairs since April 2024,[9] having previously served as shadow minister for mental health.[10]
In October 2024, Evans was a co-submitter and sole Welsh Conservative MS to vote in favour of a motion tabled by Julie Morgan supporting the principle of assisted suicide.[11][12] He stated he had entered politics because he had promised his grandmother that he would "never let anybody go through what she went through at the end of her life."[12]
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Gwernyfed Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
- ^ "Powys councillor defends working from NZ for two months". BBC News. 18 December 2018. Archived from the original on 16 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
- ^ "Liberal Democrats nearly wiped out in Wales after losing only constituency seat to Conservatives". ITV News. 8 May 2021. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
- ^ "Tory James Evans wins Brecon and Radnorshire seat as Lib Dem vote collapses". The Brecon & Radnor Express. 7 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Register of interests for James Evans MS". business.senedd.wales. 10 June 2021. Archived from the original on 30 September 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ "County Council Elections 2022 - Brecknockshire". Powys County Council. Archived from the original on 17 May 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
- ^ a b "James Evans MS". senedd.wales. Archived from the original on 6 April 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
- ^ Price, Emily (11 September 2023). "'I'm not a slave to Westminster': Tory MS talks to Nation.Cymru". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ Price, Emily (18 April 2024). "Welsh Conservatives reshuffle shadow cabinet". Nation.Cymru. Archived from the original on 18 June 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ Mansfield, Mark (25 June 2023). "Welsh Government accused of 'passing the buck' over lack of specialist healthcare services". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ "Motion NDM8656". record.senedd.wales. 23 October 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
- ^ a b "Assisted dying move defeated in Senedd vote". BBC News. 23 October 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
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