Simon Hart 'not surprised' former Welsh Secretary David Jones defected to Reform
David Jones is the former Conservative MP for Clwyd West and was Welsh Secretary of State under David Cameron. Yesterday (7 July), in a statement to GB News, he announced he had joined Nigel Farage's party.
Reacting to the news on ITV Wales' Sharp End, Hart said Jones "was always on my radar as someone who was in permanent distress, when it came to his politics".
He added: "The last time David got behind a political leader it was Liz Truss...so he has a bit of reputation for that kind of thing and for being a bit radical."
In a statement to GB News, David Jones described Reform as the party "who best represents my views" and added: "I believe many others have become disillusioned with the two major parties."
Reflecting on recent polling by Sky News that found 28% of people in Wales would vote for Reform, compared to only 10% for Conservatives, Hart said people are "hacked off" with parties they would have traditionally voted for.
He said: "The sense of disappointment when political parties make promises that they would love to keep, but probably in reality can't keep...
"Labour at the moment are suffering nationally from having made promises from 14 years in opposition, which no way on earth were they ever going to be delivered."
He went on to describe Reform as the next party on the public's "shopping list" and said it is "trying to be left wing and right wing, at the same time, they are trying to be everything to everybody".
Looking to the future of the Conservatives in the UK, Hart said it is important the party sets out their own values.
He said: "I think turnout is what is going to define this election...people have to be energised, and convinced that voting is still important, and we are not in that place yet."
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