These are all the Russell Group unis where students started Reform UK societies in 2024

Reform UK societies have sprung up at three different Russell Group unis over the last few months. It seems some students do actually support Reform UK – apparently more people under 30 voted for Reform UK than the Tories in the general election? So, here’s a rundown of the Russell Group unis with Reform UK societies, and what these students are actually doing together. By sheer coincidence, these just happen to also be the three Russell Group unis with the most white students.

University of York

The University of York Reform UK Society was officially approved on 29th November. The head of the society told Nouse, “The Reform Society seeks to attract students with similar political views and encourage discourse on campus, by adding to the already wide range of political societies. We shall do this by hosting a balance of fun and social as well as intellectually stimulating events. Our door is fully open to any who wish to engage in a new society that promotes and shares their values and have found the other political society’s lacklustre in fulfilling this need.”

Their Instagram bio reads, “The Reform UK Society is dedicated to promoting the value of hate and gathering like-minded students in fun ways on campus.”

So far, the society only seems to have organised pub crawls. But they hope to have guest talks too.

This Reform UK society doesn’t seem to be especially popular with the other York students. Someone else made a satire Instagram account which is posting pictures of a slice of gammon, to see if the gammon lasts longer than the Reform UK society. I am not making this up. I guess it’s a homage to the Liz Truss lettuce?

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The parody gammon account has four times as many followers as the main account. The people who run it have assured their followers the gammon will get eaten, even if it has mould on.

The people who run the Uni of York’s Reform UK society’s Insta seem very, very keen to network with the other two Reform UK societies at Russell Group unis and a new society at the University of East Anglia (UEA) to make a larger Reform UK youth society.

Durham University

Durham University Reform UK Society’s new website

A Reform UK society sprung up at Durham University at the start of this academic year. Their new website outlines all their values. It says, “We love our country, and believe that we should embrace its culture and history” and “We reject censorship and embrace open debate as the cornerstone of a free society.” The three committee members are all white men.

They already have 75 followers on Instagram. The society has hosted debates at the Woodman Inn on the extremely neutral topics “This house believes Charles III must dissolve parliament” and “This house believes Keir Starmer is a useful idiot”. They also have a blog for sharing their thoughts on immigration and housing.

University of Exeter

Students started making moves towards a Reform UK society at Exeter way back in April. They argued, “Reform UK is the newest of major party in UK politics. It is polling at 14%. It is time that students on campus have a society that allows them to support Reform UK in student life in the same way that Labour, Conservative and others have the opportunity to support those parties with their relevant societies.” In May, the motion passed at the Exeter Students’ Guild for the society to form – meaning at least 20 students voted yes to the society. The six committee members are all white men.

Nigel Farage actually came to Exeter in November to “help build the future of British politics”. His words. Not mine.

Feature image of Durham University by Bryan Pready via Creative Commons.