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Reform UK plots new wave of student societies

Credit: Leon Neal/Getty Images. Young supporters of Farage at a January rally in North West Essex

They say that the children are our future. So what better way for a party to demonstrate its potential than by winning support among the nation’s yoof? Britain’s universities are often depicted as hotbeds of leftism, incubators for the kind of avocado-eating, chai latte-drinking wokerati that sends Jonathan Gullis into a tizzy. But now Mr S hears that a new wave of Reform UK student societies could change all that – with branches expected to launch in the forthcoming academic year.

Currently, there are three universities branches across the country with Reform societies at Durham, East Anglia and York. These were all established when the party had less than 70,000 members. But now, with numbers above 233,000 – including a healthy contingent of those under-25 – senior Reform figures are expecting to see more branches popping up in September. These will not by initiated by party headquarters but the top brass is happy for them to be set up. Let’s hope there’s not any Tory boy style scandals eh? One insider told Mr S:

The polling doesn’t lie, we are surging with young people across the country and there is a real appetite for Reform on campus as the Tories slowly wilt away. Richard Tice spoke at York Uni last year and I’m sure more trips by our MPs will happen in the coming academic term.

Of course, more voters aged 30 and under backed Reform than the Conservatives at the general election in July. Sounds like those numbers are only going to rise…

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Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

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