What binds all my work ethic together – my legal work, my political service, and my community campaigns – is a belief in Conservative principles: personal responsibility, fiscal prudence, environmental stewardship, and a commitment to localism. I am driven by the idea that effective government empowers people rather than entangles them, and that markets work best with limited interference from government, but when underpinned by a fair legal system to which all have recourse if needed. I believe that civil society flourishes when we give people the tools to shape their own futures.
It was a tremendous honour to stand as the Conservative Party’s candidate for Twickenham in 2024, where I retained second place as the Liberal Democrat vote stood still.
I fought for the things local residents told me they cared about at the weekly advice surgeries I held throughout my campaign: building homes that were in keeping with the area and which were supported by the necessary infrastructure, fighting for better schools and safer streets and supporting the steady reduction in our reliance on fossil fuels. I believe in trusting people to drive their own future and that if we do, innovation, progress, and social cohesion can go hand-in-hand with economic growth.
In every role I take on, I aim to serve with integrity, diligence, and a deep respect for the trust placed in me by the public. Whether I am drafting legislation, reviewing a housing policy, or helping a resident navigate council services, I bring the same core belief: that public service is a noble calling, and that Conservative values offer the clearest path to a stronger, more compassionate and more resilient society.
My background is in law. I’ve spent over two decades working as a solicitor, specialising in housing – an area where social responsibility and legal precision must go hand in hand. Today, I’m a partner and Head of Social Housing at a top 50 UK law firm, where I advise housing associations and local authorities on a wide range of issues. These include landlord and tenant disputes, disrepair litigation, service charges and the increasingly vital realm of building safety.
I’ve represented clients at the highest level, including appearances in the Supreme Court, and have led teams through complex regulatory and governance issues. My approach to legal practice reflects my political values: I believe in supporting frameworks that reward responsibility, promote fairness and encourage enterprise within a clearly defined legal structure, fair to all.
But my legal work is only one part of my contribution to public life. I’m also a county councillor representing Foxhills, Thorpe, and Virginia Water on Surrey County Council, and a borough councillor for Virginia Water on Runnymede Borough Council. Over the years, I’ve served on the Environment and Sustainability Committee and the Standards and Audit Committee, tackling issues from climate policy to local accountability.
Most recently, I was honoured to be appointed as Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Lifelong Learning. Before that, I served as Deputy Cabinet Member for Strategic Highways. These roles have given me first-hand experience in shaping services that make a difference – from education to infrastructure – and ensuring our policies reflect the values of efficiency, opportunity and stewardship.
A core theme of my political work has been dealing with the need to provide and maintain the infrastructure that we all rely on. As a Conservative, I believe in cutting red tape and improving outcomes, which is why I’ve taken a firm stance on ending what I’ve called the “roadworks free-for-all.” Too often, poorly managed roadworks disrupt communities, hinder productivity, and waste public money, and I’ve long argued that utility companies and local authorities must be better coordinated. To this end I helped Dr Ben Spencer MP create the Transport (Duty to Cooperate) Bill, which would create a national framework to hold service providers accountable for their impact on our roads.
I’ve written about this on ConservativeHome, highlighting the need for decisive government action to enforce collaboration between stakeholders. For me, this issue reflects a broader truth: that good governance means making the system work better for people, not drowning it in complexity.
My commitment to responsible, community-led planning also drives my opposition to inappropriate developments that threaten the environment and local identity. I’ve campaigned against gravel extraction on Whitehall Farm and a proposed medical incinerator at Trumps Farm. These proposals posed clear risks to both the natural environment and the wellbeing of nearby residents. Standing up to these plans wasn’t just about local activism – it was about defending the principle that development must respect the character and needs of the communities it affects.