James Evans | |
---|---|
![]() Evans in 2021 | |
Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care | |
Assumed office 12 December 2024 | |
Leader | Darren Millar |
Preceded by | Sam Rowlands |
Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs | |
In office 18 April 2024 –5 December 2024 | |
Leader | Andrew RT Davies |
Preceded by | Samuel Kurtz [a] |
Succeeded by | Peter Fox |
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 1991 Brecon,Wales |
Nationality | British |
Political 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,as Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care since December 2024. [1] He previously served as councillor for Gwernyfed ward on Powys County Council.
James Evans had been elected to Powys County Council in 2017, [2] 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 venison production. [3]
At the 2021 Senedd elections,Evans contested the Brecon and Radnorshire constituency and was elected,becoming the first Conservative MS for this constituency. [4] [5] He maintained his role as a councillor until the 2022 Powys County Council elections,which he did not contest. [6] [7] Shortly after being elected in 2021,Evans was appointed as Shadow Minister for Mental Health. [8] Evans was moved to the Shadow Rural Affairs Ministry in April 2024. [9] In December 2024,after Darren Millar took control of the Welsh Conservatives,Evans was appointed Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care. In July 2025,his portfolio was expanded to include armed forces. [10]
Evans is a member of the Local Government and Housing Committee and the Wales COVID-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee. [11] 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. [11]
In the 2026 Senedd election,he will be a candidate in the Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd constituency. [12]
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. [13]
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. [14] [15] 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." [15]