As a former local Councillor here, I've a strong local connection to the area and I'm delighted to have the chance to represent my home seat.

Full statement

I'm the founder of the Mid Sussex Marathon Weekend & Haywards Heath Sports Forum, so I know how vibrant the community is. As a single mum of two girls, who attend school locally, with wider family & many friends here, it's a huge honour to be selected and be able to stay in frontline politics, something I never expected to be able to do.

I studied Politics and International Relations at Swansea University and was the first person in my family to go and succeed as a result of the opportunity. I worked in Road Safety at the Sussex Safer Partnership alongside Sussex Police & local Councils. Prior to this I was a BBC Sussex & Surrey Radio Presenter, Producer & travel reporter also working at other stations.

I was MP for Eastleigh from 2015-2019, winning unexpectedly this 20 year Lib Dem seat as a new candidate by 9000+ votes in 2015 and then 14000+ votes in 2017 which I am very proud of. I bring community understanding after serving for almost six years in Mid Sussex at Parish, Town and District level and 4+ years of useful Government experience. During my time as an MP, I was the Whip at DEFRA, served as Wales Minister, DCMS Minister for Sport, Civil Society and Loneliness and most recently as DWP Employment Minister.