Powys politician James Evans is being tipped as a leading contender to become Reform UK's next leader in the Senedd following a turbulent week for the party in Wales.
Mr Evans, the Reform UK Member of the Senedd for Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd, has reportedly emerged as the frontrunner to succeed Dan Thomas, who resigned as the party's Senedd leader this week for "personal reasons" after he was arrested on suspicion of assault and controlling or coercive behaviour.
The Spectator's Deputy Political Editor James Heale reported on Wednesday, September 16, that Mr Evans was being urged to stand by a number of Reform Senedd Members.
Posting on social media, Mr Heale said: "Understand James Evans is being urged to stand as Reform leader by numerous MSs. One calls him the 'clear front runner'."
The suggestion comes amid a difficult period for Reform in Wales.
The Senedd group had been left leaderless following Mr Thomas's resignation, while fellow MS Sarah Cooper-Lesadd had defected to Plaid Cymru.
According to the report, two names are being discussed as possible successors: current deputy leader Helen Jenner and Mr Evans.
One unnamed Senedd Member told The Spectator that "more than half" of the Reform group wanted Mr Evans to stand for the role.
For Powys residents, Mr Evans is a familiar political figure.
Before entering the Senedd, he represented the Gwernyfed ward on Powys County Council and served as cabinet member for economic development, housing and regulatory services.
He stepped down from his cabinet post in November 2020 to focus on his successful campaign to become the Conservative Member of the Senedd for Brecon and Radnorshire in 2021.
Mr Evans was later ousted from the Conservative Party and became an Independent member before defecting to Reform UK ahead of this year's Senedd election and was returned as the party's representative for the new Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd constituency.
Any move to seek the Reform leadership would come just weeks after Mr Evans indicated that he did not currently intend to stand for another Senedd term after the present parliamentary period.
During Royal Welsh Show week in July, Mr Evans said he and his wife Emma hoped to start a family and wanted any future children to enjoy "as normal and private a family life as possible".
At the time, he said: "So, as things stand today, it is not my current intention to seek another term in the Senedd after this one."
However, Mr Evans also stressed that he remained committed to representing his constituents and delivering for rural Wales.
Reform UK has yet to announce who will take over as Senedd leader, and Mr Evans has not publicly confirmed whether he intends to enter the contest.
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