One of Reform UK’s most prominent candidates has said it is “completely unacceptable” that campaign signs and Reform supporters’ properties have been targeted by vandals.
James Evans, who is the party’s lead candidate in the Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd constituency for May’s Senedd election, claims that campaign signs in his constituency have been targeted and damaged on numerous occasions.
He said that campaign signs and the property they were displayed on have been defaced with what is believed to be “either a paintball gun or balloons filled with paint”. Mr Evans described the behaviour as “completely unacceptable”.
Mr Evans was elected as a Welsh Conservative MS for Brecon and Radnorshire in 2021, before being kicked out of the party at the beginning of this year when Tory leader Darren Millar claimed he had been “engaging with Reform”. Weeks later Mr Evans appeared on stage with Reform leader Nigel Farage to confirm he had defected to the party.
Paint also appeared to be splattered over a building -Credit:@JamesEvansMS/X
(@JamesEvansMS/X)
Sharing a photo on X of an ‘I’m voting Reform UK’ sign with splatters of red paint on it, Mr Evans said the defacing of campaign material “crosses a line”.
“Whatever your politics, this should concern you,” he added. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here
James Evans previously defected to Reform from the Welsh Conservatives -Credit:PA
He wrote: “Completely unacceptable. We’ve now had campaign signs and people’s property targeted with what we believe to be either a paintball gun or balloons filled with paint. Let’s be clear, that means people are effectively firing and damaging people’s homes and businesses.”
He added: “This comes from the same people who talk about tolerance and respect, yet resort to this when they don’t like opposing views. Whatever your politics, this should concern everyone.
“If this is how some behave during a democratic election, where does it end? Disagree by all means, but this crosses a line.”
Last week Mr Evans made a similar post after he said Reform UK placards had been removed and damaged. He claimed the culprit had been “caught on camera” and urged them to return the placards. If not, he said he would send the footage to the police.
Mr Evans is standing in the Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd constituency, which combines the Westminster constituencies of Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe as well as Neath and Swansea East.
A full list of all the parties and candidates standing in the Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd constituencies is available here.
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