When a philosophy lecturer, Arif Ahmed, recently took on a job as a free-speech campaigner, he had to leave the philosophy department. Perhaps the theology faculty has been tolerant of Orr’s moonlighting.

LAST AUTUMN, a new development in British religion and politics was discernible. Nick Spencer wrote about it in these pages in November. Reform seemed to be trying to present itself as the most Christian party.

It was hard to know how to respond. Would nervous laughter do? But now a slightly fuller response is called for, with questions about the conduct of Reform’s former head of policy, James Orr, and about his suitability to be a Cambridge theology professor. Last month he was suspended from his job after a Channel 4 investigation showed him and his colleague Dan Jukes appearing to try to circumvent laws on the soliciting of foreign donations.

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