Former McCann Family advisor wants to become Reading MP
Clarence Mitchell was elected as a conservative councillor on Reading Borough Council last Friday
The former media advisor to the McCann family has told Greatest Hits Radio he wants to become the conservative MP for Reading East.
Clarence Mitchell was elected onto Reading Borough Council on Friday for Peppard ward.
He failed in an attempt to beat Green leader Caroline Lucas in Brighton in 2015 and in 2019 failed to be selected as conservative candidate. But now he's moved to Reading and says he has Matt Rodda in his sights:
"I went for the parliamentary candidacy in Brighton in 2019 and came second, but the association were very kind to me and encouraged me to become a councillor. So I went on the list and moved to Reading, you've got to show commitment, and this was the first opportunity to stand.
Mr Mitchell, who is originally from north-west London, admits his knowledge of Reading until now has been confined to passing through it on the train. But he says he's wanted to follow a political career for a while:
"Any candidate for any party, particularly those who want to go onto a parliamentary list, will tell you you have to move around from seat to seat or potential seat to seat and get to know areas get to know associations and of course get to know the people you are seeking to represent.
When asked if he wanted to take on Reading East Labour MP Matt Rodda at the next General Election he said:
"It would be presumptuous of me to say that'll be me in two or three years time, hopefully if I can prove myself as an effective and hardworking councillor over the next few years naturally I would throw my hat into the ring but for me to actually become the candidate that's down to the association and the membership."
The former TV journalist had been media advisor for the McCann family ever since three-year-old Madeleine disappeared in 2007, however he says he doesn't actively represent them anymore.
He currently works in communications and his public affairs clients have included the Iraqi Prime Minister, the Government of Iceland, Microsoft, Bank of America, Lloyds Banking Group, Heineken, Hewlett Packard and Costa Cruises.