Simplify the following text for a Grade 8 native English-speaking person.
Original: Following his retirement from athletics he served as a Member of Parliament for the Conservative Party from 1992 â `` 97 , and became a life peer in 2000 .
Simplified: Following his retirement from athletics , he served as a Member of Parliament for the Conservative Party from 1992-97 . He became a life peer in 2000 .