Stratford Reform UK candidate says he’s standing with Nigel Farage
“PEOPLE have had enough of career politicians – I just wasn’t prepared to sit back and scream at the telly anymore.”
The words of James Crocker, the prospective parliamentary candidate for Reform UK in Stratford.
“You could scream until you’re blue in the face so in the end I decided to do something about it and stand as a Reform UK candidate and even if I don’t win the Stratford seat my gravestone will read – ‘I tried, I tried’,” Mr Crocker told the Herald.
He’s a passionate 53-three-year-old who’s lived in Stratford with his wife since 2009 and he’s highly critical of the “current crop of politicians who are in it for themselves”.
His background is he’s from Derby and studied at Exeter University and now specialises in economic policy and business. He’s an investment manager, currently on sabbatical for the election, who spent 20 years in stockbroking working at Canary Wharf, London.
“I had a fabulous career but lost my job in 2008. I had the rug pulled from under me. All of a sudden I was on the breadline overnight, so I know what it’s like to be out of work but I’ve definitely emerged stronger for it. There are many reasons why I’m standing as a candidate in the election. My life experiences mean I’ve had years of training as a human. I’m so excited about this opportunity to become Stratford’s next MP I could not be more positive. Stratford has so many incredible assets and it’s such a privilege to be here,” Mr Crocker said.
What is the Reform UK political platform that appeals so much to Mr Crocker and why has it caught the attention of some voters in the run up to the election?
“Nigel Farage speaks to me,” Mr Crocker said. “Our country’s rules are being re-written by people who do not hear the voice of the people. Since Nigel Farage stepped forward there’s been a massive difference and my inbox has shown that – people are interested in him. The next government is most likely going to be Labour which means even if I won the Stratford seat I would be in opposition, but I would be in Westminster standing should-to-shoulder with Nigel Farage where we would have a greater amount of influence on public affairs. On key issues like the heath service, education, immigration and transport. This is what people want to talk about, I know this from criss-crossing the district and talking with them.”
Mr Crocker is a big supporter of the NHS and praises them for saving his life last July.
“I was watching Glastonbury and Elton John was on stage. I felt really hot and feverish and thought I’d got sun stroke, but it just didn’t go away and I felt like this for a good week or so. I went to the doctors and was referred to Warwick Hospital A&E where tests were done and after a couple of hours I was told I had pneumonia. I don’t think I would be here now if I’d left it a couple of days later. I was put on a drip feed and anti-biotics and actually got to listen to a bit of the cricket during my week in hospital. Eventually they gave me a clean bill of health and I can’t thank the NHS team enough for what they did. I’m a huge supporter of the NHS and talk about privatising it is absolute nonsense,” Mr Crocker said.
