David Chadwick has criticised James Evans for his defection to Reform UK, accusing him of prioritising his political career over his constituents.

Mr Evans, who was introduced by the party’s leader Nigel Farage at a Newport rally this morning, admitted he had previously criticised the party, but said he had reassessed “when the reality refuses to go away”.

In a statement released this afternoon, the Lib Dem MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe said: “What’s clear is that James Evans is more interested in protecting his own career than standing up for his constituents in Brecon and Radnorshire.

"You could fill a library with his past criticisms of Reform and of Conservative defectors. He has described Reform as a danger to national security because of its links to Russia, and warned they would push Britain towards an insurance-based NHS.

"Yet the moment his own seat came under threat, he jumped ship to the very people he once said had no principles.”

Mr Chadwick added: "The Welsh Liberal Democrats are clear: our principles are not for sale. We will continue to do what we were elected to do, stand up for our constituents, not engage in political psychodrama.”

As recently as last November, Mr Evans described Reform UK as “not a serious alternative for Wales”. In March last year, when he spoke on ITV television following a group of Powys councillors joining Reform UK, he claimed Reform had slogans and complaints but no serious policies for Wales.

Today in Newport, Mr Evans acknowledged his previous criticism of the party.

“I have criticised Reform in the past. I've done it publicly, and I'm not hiding away from it, and I am certainly not going to rewrite history. But serious people, not career politicians, reassess when the reality refuses to go away,” he told supporters.

“I looked again. I listened, I read the detail, and I saw a movement that has grown, and starts where the other parties refuse to start, with the truth that Britain is broken, that Wales is broken, and nothing, nothing gets fixed until you're willing to admit it.”

He later said on social media: “This decision comes from a place of reflection, not anger, and from a desire to keep fighting for the Wales I believe in.

“I will continue to work every day for the people I serve and I will first and foremost keep fighting for the people of Brecon and Radnorshire.”