Like most SPGB founder members Anderson had previously been in the Social Democratic Federation, however it was another individual of the same name who held various posts in that party.
He was a member of the May 1904 Provisional Committee which led to the formation of the SPGB in June.
Anderson was one of the Party's top speakers in the period before the First World War and was also active as an administrator, being an Executive Committee member from 1904 to 1922 and Party Organiser from 1909 to 1915.
He was briefly Acting General Secretary in 1905 (August to October) and stood as a local election candidate in St. Ann's Ward, Tottenham in 1910.
Anderson was a house painter by trade but was more usually out of work.