Cambridge University’s James Orr was described as “a brilliant academic, theologian, thinker” by Reform’s head of policy Zia Yusuf. Mr Yusuf announced the associate professor of the history of religion at Cambridge had joined Reform in a post on social media site X. The senior Reform figure added: “He has been a bastion of common sense and patriotism at Cambridge University. Vice president JD Vance once described him as his “British sherpa”. The two are reportedly close friends, with Mr Vance having visited and stayed with the British academic at his home in Cambridge.

Source: The Times October 19, 2025 13:51 UTC