Nigel Farage appoints right-wing anti-abortion theologian as Reform senior adviser
Reform has been accused of “importing divisive and dangerous ideas” from MAGA politics in the US after a right-wing theologian who opposes abortion in all cases joined the party as an advisor to Nigel Farage.
Cambridge University professor James Orr, who chairs the Center for a Better Britain think tank, is an influential figure in Donald Trump’s administration and is admired by Vice President JD Vance.
His arrival came shortly after the departure from the Conservative Party of right-wing MP Danny Kruger, who had similar views against abortion in any case.
Over the summer, both Mr. Orr and Mr. Kruger visited Mr. Vance, who was in the United Kingdom before joining Reform.
Mr Orr also described asylum seekers as “invaders” in a provocative article.
The move comes after Keir Starmer described Reformation as “racist” and “immoral” at Labor’s conference in September.
Labor condemned Reform’s acceptance of Orr into its ranks.
A Labor spokesman said: “Reform’s embrace of the likes of James Orr says all you need to know about the direction their party is taking. Its opposition to abortion, even in cases of rape, and its description of asylum seekers as ‘invaders’ are extreme even by the standards of contemporary right-wing politics.”
Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper warned: “This appointment confirms what we have always known: Reform UK is a British extension of Donald Trump’s MAGA movement.
By appointing Orr, Farage is clearly trying to import the same divisive and dangerous ideas that underpinned the Trump administration.
“We can all see what’s happening in Trump’s America. We can’t just stand by and let it become Farage’s Britain.”
Reform denied that the party was moving towards an anti-abortion stance. His decision to officially join Reform is understood to be to help the party recruit elite talent.
But Mr Orr, who is behind the National Conservatism conferences, was described by Reform’s head of policy, Zia Yusuf, as a “brilliant academic, theologian and thinker”.
Mr Yusuf, associate professor of religious history at Cambridge, announced his involvement with the Reformation in a post on the social media site X.
The senior Reform figure added: “He has been a bastion of common sense and patriotism at Cambridge University.
“He has become a close friend and someone who I believe will have a very important role in shaping the future of this country.”
He continued: “James is now a senior member of our team, a senior advisor to Nigel Farage, and will bring many more talented patriots to the Reform family.”
Although not a well-known public figure, Mr. Orr was influential on the Trump administration’s philosophy.
Vice President Vance once described him as a “British sherpa.”
Independent He approached Reform for comment.
