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Following recent leadership changes within the party, Jones has been elected as deputy leader, taking over the position formerly held by Jenner. Jones, who represents Sir Fynwy Torfaen in the Senedd, expressed strong support for Jenner, describing her as a “dynamic leader” and a “good choice the whole group can now get behind.” She emphasized the unity of the party by saying, “We’ve got a united front again.”
When asked about Evans’ assertion that he had majority backing, Jones responded skeptically. She remarked, “James says a lot of things,” and stated she did not recognize his claim at the time. Jones affirmed that Jenner enjoys “extremely strong backing” and that everyone can support her leadership easily. When pressed further about whether Evans had been misleading in his statements, Jones answered, “It is, yes. Absolutely. I think the result speaks for itself.” She acknowledged Evans as a skilled politician but expressed confusion over his comments, noting there were still procedural steps to follow after his withdrawal.
In a statement responding to the situation, Evans maintained that he had “considerable support from colleagues” and thanked those who encouraged his candidacy. However, after discussions with his family, he chose not to stand, and therefore the support he claimed was never tested in a formal contest. Evans congratulated Jenner on her election, stating, “Helen has now been elected leader, the process is over, and it’s time to move on, get on with the job and give her my full support.”
The party has declined to publicly release the voting results for both the leader and deputy leader positions. Jenner has confirmed that Senedd colleague Jason O’Connell also ran for leader, but details about who stood against Jones for deputy leader remain undisclosed. Jones herself said she was not permitted to reveal specifics of the internal process, emphasizing the importance of moving forward with strong leadership. She expressed optimism, saying, “We’ve got two strong women at the helm. We’re firing on all cylinders,” and reflected on the week as “crazy” but ultimately strengthening the party.
Notably, both Jones and Evans are former Conservative Members of the Senedd. Jones defected to Reform in the summer of 2025, with Evans following in February of the following year. When Evans was still a Conservative, he criticized Jones’ defection, accusing her of lacking “principles.” Jones later dismissed the criticism, suggesting Evans had been merely “playing the game.
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