Cambridge theology professor at centre of Reform funding allegations
Reform UK has been reported to the Metropolitan Police and Electoral Commission after an undercover investigation into alleged breaches of party donation rules was broadcast by Channel 4 news last night. The report by “Verbatim Investigations”, a group of investigative journalists, was checked and verified by Channel 4 News.
It featured conversations with senior party aides including James Orr, Reform UK’s head of policy who is also associate professor in the philosophy of religion at Cambridge University’s Faculty of Divinity, and Dan Jukes, the party’s political communications advisor. They were involved in discussions with a fictitious American company over the funding of three opinion polls commissioned by the party, costing a total of £32,500, and published by The Times and The Telegraph. This arrangement was not made public. The report alleged that this could breach electoral law governing permissible donations and the disclosure of political funding.
James Orr was filmed discussing how some donors do not want to declare their support openly, and then talked about a donation for another poll saying: “Is anyone going to find out. Am I gonna tell anyone? Obviously not, so the reality is we can easily get away with it… The Electoral Commission .. are completely useless. They’re just so dumb and ineffective”.
After the broadcast, James Orr, who used to be a lawyer, recorded an interview for social media rebutting the allegations and criticising the undercover operation. He said the reporter had tried to get people from Reform to break the law, but they didn’t succeed. No money or donation reached Reform and legal advice was adamant this was not a donation.
Further conversations in the report concerned a suggestion that a donation of £500,000 could be made by the American company through a supposed UK based son. No donation was made.
Reform issued a statement saying it had been “the target of a hoax perpetuated by foreign-funded climate-change activists posing as would-be party donors” and the party denied any wrongdoing. An internal investigation has been launched.
FT report on ‘James Orr and the gospel of the new British right’
The Financial Times carries a lengthy report on “James Orr and the gospel of the new British right”. It describes his brand of Christian nationalism, his admiration of Roger Scruton and links with right wing politicians in Hungary and the USA. The report outlines complaints during his time at Cambridge, including over the time he spends on Reform, and records safeguarding concerns arising from students living as a community near his home.
Cabinet committee on antisemitism to ensure security
The government has announced that a Cabinet committee on antisemitism will be set up to address concerns over the rising number of hate crimes against the Jewish community. The initiative was unveiled by the Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary, Angela Rayner, during a meeting in Downing Street with leaders of British Jews. The cabinet committee will ensure high levels of security especially over the upcoming series of holy days, starting with Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, next week. Sixteen people led by the Board of Deputies attended the meeting and raised concerns about expected UK sanctions on trade in the West Bank, warning that broad, untargeted measures may prompt a wider boycott movement that marginalises and stigmatises British Jews. Jewish News report here
Pew finds anti-Muslim attitudes persist 25 years after 9/11
Anti-Muslim attitudes in the US remain widespread 25 years after the 9/11 attacks, according to a new study by the Pew Research Center. It found 42 per cent of Americans believe Muslims have a negative impact on the country, while 43 per cent say Muslims are less patriotic than other Americans. More than half – 51 per cent – believe Islam is more likely than other religions to encourage violence, compared with 25 per cent in 2002. Pew also found that attitudes have become sharply divided along political lines, with 76 per cent of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents expressing this view, compared with 29 per cent of Democrats and Democratic “leaners”. Before 9/11 there were 28 Anti-Muslim hate crimes recorded in the year 2000. This rose sharply after 9/11 to 481 recorded in 2001. Last year, 205 hate crimes were recorded. The numbers have never returned to pre-attack levels.
Britain needs new shared national story, where patriotism is ‘for the greater good’
The Muslim think tank Equi held its inaugural annual lecture at University College London last night, when Baroness Syeeda Warsi and journalist Peter Oborne spoke on “Patriotism: Pride not Prejudice”. Baroness Warsi said patriotic pride comes from shared values of tolerance, liberty and equality, built in Britain over centuries, where policy is based on fact not falsehoods, corruption is challenged and the whole nation is raised up. She said there was an irony that people claiming to be patriots do not abide by these rules. Peter Oborne warned “there is a sustained project designed to undermine, discredit and destroy liberal democracy in this country”, supported by the mainstream media. He said it is the central project of Reform UK. Both speakers were alarmed at the way Christianity has been adopted by nationalist movements, with Baroness Warsi saying Christian nationalism is a growing and dangerous movement in Britian, with ideas which “fly in the face of Jesus’s teachings”. She said a new shared national story is needed, where patriotism means focussing on the greater good, inspiring people to be better, rebuilding feelings of mutual obligation and supporting public institutions.
Calls for Sadiq Khan to condemn visit by Hindu nationalist leader
The London Mayor Sadiq Khan is facing calls to condemn the UK visit of Mohan Bhagwat, leader of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu nationalist organisation in India whose ideology is behind India’s ruling party, the BJP. He is visiting London as part of a global tour aimed at presenting a “positive perspective” on India and the RSS. Hindus for Human Rights UK and other campaign groups have written to City Hall urging the Mayor to condemn the visit and increase security for religious minorities. They accuse the RSS and its affiliates of promoting discrimination and violence against Muslims, Christians and other marginalised communities.
St Paul’s Cathedral signs four-year deal with ‘Fabric’ nightclub
St Paul’s Cathedral has signed a four-year deal with the London nightclub Fabric to stage music events inside the building. Fabric co-founder Cameron Leslie said the club was looking to create “something genuinely special and befitting of this incredible space”. Sandra Lynes Timbrell, the cathedral’s director of visitor engagement, said she hoped a “carefully curated programme of exceptional concerts” would draw people who had not visited before, showcasing world class talent and creating unforgettable experiences. Other cathedrals have hosted “rave in the nave” nightclub events and silent discos, sometimes causing local controversy. The first concert at St Pauls is on 29 October. The artist has not yet been announced..
