Reform’s former head of policy James Orr steps down from Cambridge University management roles following ‘media scrutiny’

Reform UK’s former head of policy James Orr has stepped down from two academic roles at the University of Cambridge following controversies surrounding his actions as a member of Nigel Farage’s party and also after increased ‘media scruitny’.

Orr, who was appointed the party’s head of policy in February, has made the headlines for all the wrong reasons after an undercover Channel 4 investigation revealed that he breached electoral law by soliciting political donations from foreign citizens.

An investigation by the Financial Times recently also revealed that Orr, an associate professor of philosophy of religion and friend of US vice-president JD Vance, had been subject to two complaints by former Cambridge students.

One of the complaints led to a £5,000 payout by the university and a written apology from the Divinity faculty. 

Now the FT also reports that Orr had ‘quietly stood down from his most substantial role as the chair of the Faculty of Divinity’s undergraduate exam board — which involves oversight of end-of-year exams and final grades for all students — according to several people familiar with the matter.

“He would also no longer take up his expected position as convener of the philosophy of religion master’s degree this year, these people said. As a result, his responsibilities will now be largely limited to giving student supervisions and lecturing.”

Orr has also faced scruitny after housing students in his own home, which he described as a haven for “refugees” from the main university.

The academic has denied any wrongdoing and said that no disciplinary action had been taken against him.