James Cracknell says he supports the Tories because they support people to «do what they want»; and give them «freedom to do it»; Photo: Paul Grover for The Telegraph
Double Olympic champion James Cracknell will seek to become a Conservative MP at the next election after being chosen as the party's candidate in Colchester.
The rowing champion, 51, who helped Britain win the coxless four in 2000 and 2004, has been chosen by the Conservatives to contest the Essex city seat.
He will replace Health Secretary Will Quince, who announced his After leaving office, the MP will spend more time with his family at the next national vote.
Mr Cracknell, who has long been associated with the Tories, recently warned that taxation was a «brake on productivity», saying he would like to cut corporation tax and VAT, as well as reform income tax and inheritance tax.
< p>He was known to be in the running for a seat in Parliament, although he had initially thrown his hat into the ring for Henley-on-Thames — one of Boris Johnson's old patches — where he has been rowing since he was 18.
Colchester It will be a different challenge, with the Olympian having to defend a smaller majority of 9,400.
The next election, expected in autumn 2024, will not be his first political experience.
Mr Cracknell was closely associated with the modernizing wing of the Tory party when David Cameron was leader and launched an unsuccessful bid for a Tory seat in the European Parliament in 2014.
< p>He said at the time that will bring a “fresh perspective” to parliament, and noted that the EU’s actions will affect his children and grandchildren.
Cracknell (second from right) with Olympic gold-winning Team GB teammates (from left) Matthew Pinsent, Ed Coode and Steve Williams in Athens 2004 Photo: Tommy Hindley/Pro Sports
He criticized Brexit, telling The Telegraph in May : “The best thing about Britain is its place in the world and its outward-looking view of the larger country.
“And I think the worst thing about Brexit is that it forced us to look inward and become little Britain. And this is not what the Conservative Party stands for. That's not what I stand for.»
He said he supports the Conservatives because they support people «to do what they want» and give them «the freedom to do it.»
< p>When asked what taxes he would cut, he said: «I would looked at corporation tax, I would look at this as a way to solve this problem, would VAT benefit from a small reduction?
“If you want the UK to be seen as an investment destination, then raising corporation tax now, in the face of a cost of living crisis, is not a good idea.”
On inheritance tax, he said: “It raises less than 1 percent of all tax revenue, and the estates covered in 2022 were 23,000.
“There aren't that many people. How much of the accountants' fees and legal costs associated with this, did it really raise anything? It's very emotional.»
Mr Cracknell is best known for winning gold in Sydney and Athens with Steve Redgrave, Tim Foster and Matthew Pinsent.
If successful in his bid becoming an MP, he would join the list of 30 MPs who competed at the Olympics.
Most of those who competed sat in the House of Lords, including life peers who were awarded for their sporting achievements.
Paul Dundas, leader of the Colchester Tories, said Mr Cracknell was the members' «obvious choice.»
«I think he will be a fantastic candidate and an excellent MP for Colchester.» , he said.
“He’ll win because he’s a guy who doesn’t lose.”
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