During recent Reform UK media events, two very distinctive figures can often be seen in the front row: the near-white locks of Danny Kruger and the styled blond hair of James Orr.
As well as guiding the political agenda for what might become the UK’s next government, the pair have something else in common. Both are highly devout believer who found religion in later life, and hold trenchant views on social issues such as abortion and the traditional family unit.
Connections and Convictions
The MP Kruger, who defected from the Conservatives, and Orr, a university scholar, are members of the steering committee of a rightwing thinktank called the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship.
Another member is the financier Paul Marshall, the hedge fund millionaire who controls GB News and the rightwing Spectator magazine. He is also a practising Christian.
“Religion, specifically evangelical Christianity, has in recent decades been one of the defining elements of US rightwing politics,” with its adherents providing the core of a particular political support.
Cross-Over Connections
There are some links. Orr is personally connected to JD Vance that he has welcomed him at his family home. Orr is also active in the NatCon movement, which has ties to the US religious-populism world.
However, direct parallels quickly break down due to a simple matter of numbers. While polling shows that nearly a quarter of US adults are evangelical Christians, the proportion for the UK is roughly one-tenth of that at the very most.
The UK Evangelical Vote
An additional crucial element to consider. While US evangelicals lean firmly to the political right, recent surveys by the UK’s Evangelical Alliance suggests that the broader situation in Britain is markedly distinct.
A poll of nearly 1,500 evangelicals shows Labour in the lead with 26% support. Reform and the Liberal Democrats are tied on 20%, with the Conservatives on 18%.
Other questions reveal support among evangelicals for more generous welfare payments, but also significant concern about plans to permit assisted suicide.
“Among evangelicals there can be a gap between personal views, particularly regarding social issues, and how people cast their ballot,” explained a representative. “As an instance, someone might have a firm stance on abortion, but they don’t see voting as likely to lead to change.”
Cross-Party Belief
Evangelism does exist in parliament, including all-party prayer group meetings. But it is a reality present on the political left, with figures like Kruger balanced out by the Lib Dem Tim Farron and the Labour MP Rachael Maskell.
She has been very open about how faith informs her politics, especially concerning issues such as poverty.
“Ethical fairness was ‘a big part’ of Labour politics,” Maskell argued. “It’s part of our foundations, how we think about disparity in society, making sure we have a fair framework.”
A Newer Strain
Nonetheless, there exists a different and newer side to religion in UK politics, one influenced by American ideas of faith-based nationalism.
The activist Tommy Robinson has started to portray himself as openly a Christian, although much of this is done as a contrast to Islam.
In a similar vein, Nick Tenconi, who leads the UK outpost of the Turning Point group, includes social media messaging about the country needing to “re-embrace Christianity” alongside anti-Muslim content.
One striking display of this, a Turning Point-allied Christian nationalist group called King’s Army marched in formation through Soho, a location apparently selected as it is the centre of London’s LGBT community.
Limited Influence
All this remains, however, fairly niche in UK politics. While critics sometimes depict certain figures as wealthy incubators of US-style evangelism, associates insist they are simply observant believers who are strongly opposed to any politicisation of faith.
He has been not averse to sometimes unconventional rhetoric, for example using a speech to condemn what he said was a younger generation indoctrinated by a blend of ideologies.
“Here in Britain you do have a few Christian nationalists, but when it comes to politics it more often be a sort of longing for a Christian past, linked to our historic identity,” noted an analyst.
A parliamentarian of faith with conservative views observed that while the issue of assisted dying had united MPs with faith, any links beyond that felt limited.
“I certainly don’t get the sense of much of an evangelical lobby,” they said. “In my view, my faith is more a basis for what I personally hold. And here, religion is not particularly a decisive electoral issue.”
