After leaving school, Anderson studied Shipping Management at Nottingham Technical College, before becoming a coal miner. He was a long-time Labour Party member, and served as a councillor in the Huthwaite and Brierly ward of Ashfield, where he was elected in 2015. Anderson also worked as office manager for Ashfield's then-Labour MP, Gloria De Piero, having campaigned alongside her for the 2015 and 2017 UK general elections. Anderson was a vocal Brexiteer, having supported the Vote Leave campaign in the 2016 EU Referendum.