wˌaɪlst stˈʌdiɪŋ æt kˈɑːlɪdʒ ɪn hˈʌl ɪnðə nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi z, hiː wʌzɐ mˈɛmbɚɹ ʌvðə fˌɛdɚɹˈeɪʃən ʌv kənsˈɜːvətˌɪv stˈuːdənts.
Whilst studying at college in Hull in the 1980s, he was a member of the Federation of Conservative Students.