Karate expert selected as Tory candidate

Nov 21 2009 By Steve Bax

Dominic Raab, a former member of the British karate squad, has been selected as the Conservative's parliamentary candidate for Esher & Walton.

The Oxford law graduate was officially adopted by the party earlier today (Saturday) following an open primary at Sandown Park Racecourse in Esher.

Mr Raab was the last of six Tory hopefuls to speak and appeared to win over the crowd of several hundred voters, with his brand of fighting spirit and euro-scepticism.

Speaking after his victory, in which he won more than 50% of votes on the second ballot, the delighted winner told listeners: "This is the greatest story of my life. I will be working very hard to make you proud of your decision."

He paid tribute to the man he hopes to succeed at the next election, Tory MP Ian Taylor, who at 64, has decided to stand down after 23 years to resume a career in business.

Mr Raab, who in common with the five unsuccessful candidates - Rob Butler, Jo-Anne Nadler, Christine Emmett, Sajid Javid, and Margaret Doyle - does not live in the consituency, pledged to move to the area in February, with his wife Erika.

All the candidates were given five minutes to say why they should be selected and each was then asked the same five questions.

Mr Raab recalled in his speech some words of advice given to him by a karate teacher as a child: "He said what you lack in technical ability you must make up for in fighting spirit. It was the best advice I was ever given. Fifteen years later it saw me on to the British karate squad and I want to bring that fighting spirit to Elmbridge."

Mr Raab said he opposes a third runway at Heathrow Airport, and would do so even if the Conservative Party were to change its anti-expansion stance.

He thinks Christopher Kelly's recommendations for the reform of parliamentary expenses should be adopted in full immediately, has pledged to live in the constituency and commute to Westminster, and is anti-ID cards.

He said Britain should remain in the European Union, but believes in every area other than trade, such as common law and policy, the government have the right to opt out, and says there should be UK referendum on that principle.

Frank Bloom, a member of the audience who voted for Mr Raab, said it was the candidate's European stance which had clinched his vote. He said: "I'd never heard of him before today. I thought he started slowly but when he was asked the questions he really answered them well. It was entirely the questions for me."

Ian Taylor wished Mr Raab well and said he'd been delighted with all the candidates and by the turnout, which had included party and non-party members alike.

He said: "Dominic performed best on the day but he's got great creditials. I always said I'd go when I was still reluctant to go, and it feels like a good time. This will re-energise the association and me."