Lee Anderson is one of the most outspoken and controversial figures in modern British politics. Known to many as “30p Lee,” Anderson’s political journey has seen him cross the floor from Labour to the Conservatives and, most recently, to Reform UK. His rise has been characterised by blunt rhetoric, culture war interventions, and a willingness to challenge the political consensus on a range of issues. This profile offers a chronological account of Anderson’s life, political affiliations, and public controversies.
Early Life and Background
Lee Anderson was born on 6 January 1967 in Nottinghamshire, a region with deep mining roots. He grew up in Ashfield, the area he would later go on to represent in Parliament. His father was a coal miner, and Anderson himself worked as a coal miner for ten years at the local pits until they were closed following the decline of Britain’s coal industry.
Following the end of his mining career, Anderson held a number of roles, including as a support worker for people with learning disabilities. He was also involved in charity work and community volunteering. His working-class background and blunt communication style became central to his political identity.
Anderson’s early political interests were shaped by his community’s experience of post-industrial decline and growing disillusionment with establishment politics — a trend that would later manifest in the Brexit vote.
Labour Party involvement
Anderson began his formal political journey with the Labour Party. He was elected as a Labour councillor for the Huthwaite and Brierley ward on Ashfield District Council. During this time, he was involved in local initiatives and built a reputation for being outspoken and uncompromising. However, tensions grew between Anderson and the party leadership over issues such as anti-social behaviour and perceived leniency on crime.
In 2018, he was suspended from the Labour Party for using a friend to stake out a traveller encampment and report on its activity — a move considered by some as inappropriate and inflammatory. Although Anderson defended his actions as being in the interests of the local community, the controversy led to further friction with Labour’s local organisation.
Disillusioned with the party’s direction under Jeremy Corbyn — particularly on issues of law and order, Brexit, and national identity — Anderson left Labour in 2018.
Joining the Conservatives and Entering Parliament
After his departure from Labour, Anderson joined the Conservative Party. Of his departure, he wrote: “The Labour party is no longer the party I joined. Both locally and nationally, it has been taken over by the hard-left who are more interested in fighting internal ideological battles than standing up for the priorities of working men and women. “I have joined the Conservatives as they are now the only party of aspiration who listen and act on the everyday concerns of working people.” One can only speculate whether the 2017 result had also encouraged Anderson. In what was a relatively successful election for Labour nationally, the Tory vote surged 19% and looked set to win next time.
He quickly became a vocal supporter of Boris Johnson and his “Get Brexit Done” message. In the 2019 general election, he stood as the Conservative candidate for Ashfield, a traditional Labour stronghold that had swung heavily toward Leave in the 2016 EU referendum. His campaign was notable for its no-nonsense style and uncompromising messaging on crime, immigration, and personal responsibility. In a widely reported moment during the campaign, Anderson proposed that problem tenants should be made to live in tents and pick vegetables. The comment attracted criticism from Labour opponents but also helped raise his profile as a plain-speaking candidate unafraid to speak his mind.
Anderson won the seat with a majority of 5,733 votes, becoming part of the so-called “Red Wall” of traditionally Labour constituencies that fell to the Conservatives in 2019.
“30p Lee” and Media Profile
Anderson rose to national prominence in 2022 during a debate on the cost of living crisis. In a controversial intervention in the House of Commons, he suggested that meals could be cooked for as little as 30p and that people relying on food banks lacked cooking and budgeting skills.
His remarks were widely criticised, particularly by food poverty campaigners, charities, and opposition MPs, who accused him of being out of touch with the realities of poverty. The nickname “30p Lee” was coined as a result of this controversy and quickly spread across social media and the press. While intended as an insult by his critics, Anderson embraced the label and used it to reinforce his persona as someone who speaks unpopular truths.
He doubled down on his comments, later releasing videos showing how meals could be cooked on a tight budget. Supporters argued that he was highlighting issues of personal responsibility and self-reliance, while detractors accused him of ignoring structural poverty and promoting victim-blaming narratives.
Deputy Chairmanship and Internal Party Tensions
Anderson’s profile continued to rise within the Conservative Party, particularly among the right-wing of the party. In February 2023, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak appointed him Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party, a move seen as an effort to appeal to disaffected working-class voters and Red Wall constituencies.
However, Anderson’s tenure as Deputy Chairman was marked by ongoing controversies. He frequently criticised asylum seekers, LGBTQ+ education in schools, and the presence of “woke” culture in public institutions. His blunt remarks and combative style often put him at odds with more moderate voices in the party.
He also became increasingly critical of the government’s failure to reduce illegal immigration and tackle the ongoing Channel crossings. His frustration with the lack of delivery on key manifesto promises, combined with ideological differences, set the stage for his eventual defection.
Defection to Reform
In March 2024, Anderson defected from the Conservative Party to join Reform UK, the right-wing populist party led by Richard Tice and later Nigel Farage. His decision sent shockwaves through Westminster and was seen as a significant coup for Reform UK, which had struggled to attract high-profile sitting MPs.
Anderson cited the Conservatives’ failure to control immigration, rising crime, and broken promises on Brexit as his reasons for leaving. He claimed the party no longer represented working-class voters and had lost its way under Sunak’s leadership.
Upon joining Reform UK, Anderson was immediately given a prominent platform, often appearing alongside Farage at press events and campaign launches.
Key Interventions and Controversies as a Reform MP
Since joining Reform UK, Anderson has continued to make headlines. He was central to the launch of “Operation Restoring Justice” in November 2025, a hardline immigration plan that included mass deportations, withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights, and the disapplication of the Refugee Convention.
His support for the plan drew praise from Reform supporters but condemnation from human rights groups, legal experts, and opposition parties. Anderson argued the proposals were necessary to restore public trust and protect British borders.
He has also repeatedly called for tougher policing, a crackdown on political correctness, and the removal of what he sees as “woke ideology” from public institutions. His rhetoric remains confrontational, and his interviews often generate viral moments on social media.
In Parliament, Anderson has championed issues like veterans’ housing, patriotism in schools, and British manufacturing. However, his confrontational style continues to polarise public opinion. Supporters see him as a brave truth-teller; critics see him as inflammatory and divisive.
Final takeaway
Lee Anderson’s political journey from Labour councillor to Reform UK MP reflects the shifting tectonics of British politics in the post-Brexit era. His appeal to disillusioned working-class voters, emphasis on national sovereignty, and combative populism have made him a key figure on the political right.
While derided by some as “30p Lee,” Anderson has turned the label into a badge of honour — a symbol of his commitment to speaking plainly, challenging consensus, and putting what he calls “common sense” politics back on the agenda.
Whether Reform UK breaks through nationally or remains a pressure group on the Conservative right, Lee Anderson will likely remain a lightning rod in British politics for years to come.