Editing James Cracknell (section)

==Politics==

Having been a prominent supporter of the [[NOtoAV]] campaign in the [[2011 United Kingdom Alternative Vote referendum]], in June 2013 Cracknell revealed his intention to stand in the [[2014 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|European Parliament election of 2014]]. He commented "The European Union is going to have an effect on my children and grandchildren. I'd like to think I can have an effect - bring a fresh perspective. It's not something I have to do, it's something I want to do."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/hay-festival/10093697/James-Cracknell-Why-Im-standing-as-an-MEP.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603021656/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/hay-festival/10093697/James-Cracknell-Why-Im-standing-as-an-MEP.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 June 2013 |location=London |work=The Daily Telegraph |title=James Cracknell: Why I'm standing as an MEP |date=2 June 2013}}</ref>

In October 2013, Cracknell was announced as a [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] candidate in [[South West England (European Parliament constituency)|South West England and Gibraltar]], together with [[Ashley Fox]], [[Julie Girling]], [[Georgina Butler]], [[Sophia Swire]] and Melissa Maynard.<ref name=DC>[https://www.devizesconservatives.com/news/your-candidates-european-parliament-elections-2014 Your candidates for the European Parliament Elections 2014], 30 October 2013, devizesconservatives.com</ref> Although he was at number 3 on the Conservative [[Party-list proportional representation|party list]], Cracknell was unsuccessful.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/eu-regions/E15000009 South West VOTE 2014 Europe], bbc.co.uk, 26 May 2021</ref>

In May 2023, it was reported Cracknell was seeking to be the [[prospective parliamentary candidate]] for [[Henley (UK Parliament constituency)|Henley]] at the [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024 general election]], following the announcement of the retirement of [[John Howell (politician)|John Howell]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Olympic champion seeks to be Tory candidate for MP |url=http://www.henleystandard.co.uk/news/home/179938/olympic-champion-seeks-to-be-tory-candidate-for-mp.html |access-date=2023-05-04 |website=Henley Standard |date=3 May 2023 |language=en}}</ref> He was selected as the Conservative candidate for [[Colchester (UK Parliament constituency)|Colchester]] in September 2023.<ref>{{cite news |title=James Cracknell to reportedly stand for election in Colchester |url=https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/23810675.james-cracknell-reportedly-stand-election-colchester/ |access-date=25 September 2023 |work=Colchester Gazette |date=25 September 2023}}</ref><ref name="Grdn202406"/> In the 2024 General Election, Cracknell lost to the Labour candidate by 8250 votes.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/E14001176 | title = BBC Election Results, Colchester Results| work = BBC News}}</ref>
Cracknell has stated he believes Britain could rejoin the EU in a generation.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/09/26/james-cracknell-predicts-britain-will-rejoin-eu/ | title=UK could rejoin EU in a generation, says James Cracknell | newspaper=The Telegraph | date=26 September 2023 | last1=Gibbons | first1=Amy }}</ref>