Jack Anderton arrived in Newcastle as part of his “A New Dawn” tour - a series of campus events examining why increasing numbers of young people are turning towards Reform UK. The Newcastle event also featured Head of Policy for Reform UK, Dr James Orr, who joined Anderton for a talk and Q&A session about the party’s message and the issues shaping young voters’ political outlook.
In recent months, Anderton has become a prominent figure in online political commentary and is credited with launching and helping to expand Nigel Farage’s audience on TikTok. Through videos addressing topics such as housing, immigration, and the political system, he has attracted millions of views and sparked national debate around Reform’s messaging.
The “A New Dawn” tour has taken him to universities across the UK, including Durham, Cambridge, Exeter, Edinburgh and York, and now Newcastle. According to Anderton, the tour is intended both to spread Reform’s political message and to engage directly with students who may feel disillusioned with the current political landscape.
The Newcastle event took place against a backdrop of growing tensions surrounding Anderton's previous appearances at other universities. Prior stops on the tour attracted protests from activist groups such as Stand Up to Racism. At the University of York, he was also faced by a crowd of around 400 people, protesting his presence on campus.
“The tour has several aims,” he said. “The first is to meet promising, ambitious young people around the country. I’m going to our elite institutions across the country to meet people who could potentially staff the party, staff a future government, or staff the future civil service.”
He suggested that younger generations have been disproportionately affected by political decisions made over the past decades.
“My message is that the country is broken and the two major parties have fundamentally ruined it,” he said. “Young people have been hit the hardest - in terms of housing, job opportunities, immigration, and university costs. For me, it’s about taking that message to students who are perhaps looking for something a little more radical that actually speaks to and for them.”
For Anderton, university campuses are a crucial part of building political momentum.
“Engaging students is the most important because it’s my age demographic. Young people bring vitality and energy to political movements. They’re the people who will actually get out on the street, canvas, and hand out leaflets.”
Regardless of political opinions, to have the likely head of policy speak at a Northern University, at great length from London, is quite the honour.
At Bangor University in Wales, the debate society rejected a request by Anderton and Reform MP Sarah Pochin to address students, citing “zero tolerance for any form of racism, transphobia or homophobia displayed by the members of Reform UK.”
The society said it had rejected the request from Reform “in line with our values”, adding “we stand by this decision as a committee. We are proud to be the first of the debating unions to take a stand against Reform UK. We strongly implore our fellow societies to join us in keeping hate out of our universities."
Despite the controversy, Anderton said he hopes students approach the talks with an open mind.
“I don’t expect everyone to agree with me, and I don’t expect everyone to disagree with me either,” he said. “My goal is to speak to those who might be wavering. Even if I bring one person on board, that’s a success to me.”
“We don’t aim to provoke a reaction with these events, but the left tends to protest whenever somebody they disagree with arrives on campus.”
The President of the Conservative Society, Henry Bateson, said “the fact that Reform UK have topped opinion polls for so long suggests it’s important to hear their arguments,” he said. “They might be forming the next government in 2029, if not before. Hosting Jack and James gives people who disagree with their politics the chance to challenge them in the Q&A.”
“Jack is effectively the Gen Z representative in Reform UK, so hearing his opinions is all the more vital. Dr Orr, is head of policy and someone who brings tremendous philosophical insight. I felt this was an opportunity too good to turn down.”
“Regardless of political opinions, to have the likely head of policy speak at a Northern University, at great length from London, is quite the honour.”
He added that the society itself reflects a mix of political sympathies among its members. While it remains formally the Conservative Society, Bateson said there have been discussions about renaming it the “Tory and Reform Society.”
Since beginning to organise regular guest speakers in late 2024, Bateson says the society has hosted a wide range of political figures and commentators, including Matt Ridley, Charles Moore, John Hayes, Joy Morrissey, Mark Littlewood, and Ben Habib.
“I am a great believer in exposing everyone to different viewpoints,” he said. “If I managed to persuade the head of policy from the Green Party and their young representatives to come, I’d be thrilled to host them as well.”
Whilst the content of the event, and indeed other events that our students may lead, may not fully align with our values, we commit to ensuring our students and visitors have the right to freedom of speech and healthy debate
Newcastle University Students’ Union confirmed it had been notified of the event in advance. Lindsey Lockey said the Students’ Union followed its usual procedures to ensure the event could proceed safely.
“NUSU were notified of the event and we initiated our procedures on due diligence, health and safety and considerations to enable our societies to operate in a safe and compliant manner. Whilst the content of the event, and indeed other events that our students may lead, may not fully align with our values, we commit to ensuring our students and visitors have the right to freedom of speech and healthy debate,” she said.
During the discussion itself, Anderton and Orr answered questions on a range of topics including housing, student debt, and the political strategy facing Reform.
For Anderton, inviting Orr to join the tour was intended to broaden the conversation and allow students to engage directly with the people shaping the party’s policy direction.
“It allowed us to answer more varied and different types of questions,” he said. “It also gives students the chance to speak to people who are important in informing policy and what the next government might look like.”
Ultimately, he said, the core message he hopes students take away from the tour is that younger generations have been poorly served by the political status quo.
“My message to young people is that you have been totally screwed by both major parties in this country,” he said. “Reform recognises that and is trying to fix it.”