Dear East Surrey Residents, I am delighted to be standing as your Independent Candidate in the forthcoming General Election.

Full statement

For the past three years I have been Independent District Councillor for Felbridge at Tandridge District Council and have sat on Planning, Planning Policy Committees, Gatwick new run-way, Community Infrastructure Levy and Climate Change Working Groups. At Tandridge I chose to be put with a small group of like-minded Independent Councillors who act independently. When not expected to attend a meeting, I would often watch online to keep up-to-date with as much as possible. Tandridge District Council is led by the Residents’ Alliance Group in Minority Administration as there is no overall majority in the council. I grew up in the New Forest District. My father was a self-employed engineer and my mother raised three children and when the youngest left home she became a school escort for children with special needs. My first qualification was in NHS hospital pharmacy in Hampshire but I have lived in Felbridge for 39 years. I am not a stranger to Caterham as I used to be a (mostly part-time) Primary Teacher for Hamsey Green and Marden Lodge. Concurrently, I was part-time Head Gymnastics’ Coach for my local sports’ centre for 34 years in Mid Sussex. I was able to fully use my interest in gymnastics, scuba diving, Personal Social Health Education and Global Education during my teaching career in Surrey. I completed a one-year course with NHS Nurses in Personal, Social, Health and Drug Information. The British Council sent me on my own to the Gambia to enrich my global experience and to teach children in a remote village school and the British Council also enabled me to be part of a team of ten teachers who went to Mauritius to research how they create their citizens. Both trips were life-changing. I first became interested in politics during austerity. I wanted to help to change things. My approach is not party-led but issue-led. I get to know my constituents, read documents, listen and contribute to discussions and make decisions based on compliance with the law, suitability for my residents and of course, giving due consideration to resources and the environment. I generally support protection of our Green Belt and other protected areas and I support house building in the right locations. There are always financial challenges with all public services and this year feels especially challenging. I will do my best to contribute to proposals which ever administration is in power. My recent experience as a District Councillor in Tandridge for 3 years has been invaluable and will put me in good stead if I am elected as your representative in Parliament.

Judy Moore. Independent Parliamentary Candidate for East Surrey