{{short description|British Labour politician}} {{for|the television and stage actor and producer|Clare Lawrence Moody}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Use British English|date=January 2020}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Clare Moody | image = Member of the European Parliament for South West England Clare Miranda Moody.jpg | caption = | office = [[Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner|Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset]] | term_start = 9 May 2024 | predecessor = [[Mark Shelford]] | constituency_MP1 = [[South West England (European Parliament constituency)|South West England]] | parliament1 = European | term_start1 = 1 July 2014 | term_end1 = 1 July 2019 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|10|30|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Chipping Norton]], [[Oxfordshire]], England | birth_name= Clare Miranda Moody | party = [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] | alma_mater = [[University of Kent]] | website = {{Official website|https://www.claremoody.com}} }}
'''Clare Miranda Moody''' (born 30 October 1965) is a British politician serving as [[Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner|Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset]] since 2024. A member of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]], she served as a [[Member of the European Parliament]] (MEP) for [[South West England (European Parliament constituency)|South West England]] from 2014 to 2019.
==Early life and career== Clare Miranda Moody was born on 30 October 1965 in [[Chipping Norton]], Oxfordshire to Joan and Raymond Moody.<ref name="EP-webpage">{{cite web |title=Clare MOODY |url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/124944/CLARE_MOODY_home.html |work=[[Europa (web portal)|Europa]] |publisher=European Parliament |access-date=6 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715190119/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/124944/CLARE_MOODY_home.html |archive-date=15 July 2014}}</ref><ref name=tbb-201712>{{cite web |url=https://www.thebridgeburford.co.uk/BridgeInterviews/2016-12 |title=Interview: Raymond & Joan Moody |website=The Bridge Magazine |date=December 2017 |access-date=11 October 2023}}</ref> Brought up in [[Burford]], her father served as town mayor and both her parents were [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] activists.<ref name=express-20100322>{{cite news |url=http://www.express.co.uk/expressyourself/164523/Tory-roots-of-Brown-s-aide-Clare-Moody |title=Tory roots of Brown's aide Clare Moody |author=Sarah O'Grady |newspaper=[[Daily Express]] |date=22 March 2010 |accessdate=26 May 2014}}</ref><ref name=tbb-201712/>
Moody trained as a secretary. Later she studied [[industrial relations]] at the [[University of Kent]] and began her career in trade unionism at the [[Banking, Insurance and Finance Union|Banking, Insurance and Finance Union (BIFU)]].<ref name=salisburystory-moody>{{cite web |url=https://hersalisburystory.com/stories/clare-moody/ |title=Clare Moody |website=Her Salisbury Story |access-date=30 June 2022}}</ref> BIFU went through several amalgamations to become [[UNIFI (trade union)|UNIFI]], [[Amicus (trade union)|Amicus]], and later [[Unite the Union|Unite]], where she worked as a regional officer in [[Bournemouth]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.unitetheunion.org/how-we-help/listofregions/southwest/contactus/ |title=Contact us - Unite in the South West |publisher=Unite the Union |access-date=26 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527211836/http://www.unitetheunion.org/how-we-help/listofregions/southwest/contactus/ |archive-date=27 May 2014}}</ref>
Moody worked in the [[Number 10 Policy Unit]] under Prime Minister [[Gordon Brown]].<ref name="express-20100322" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-05-12 |title=European elections 2014: Labour aim to get back on South West map |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-27364809 |access-date=2022-06-12}}</ref> She was the Labour candidate for [[Salisbury (UK Parliament constituency)|Salisbury]], a safe Conservative seat, at the [[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005 general election]].<ref name="express-20100322" /> Moody also stood to become the inaugural [[Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner]],<ref>{{cite news |date=1 June 2012 |title=Union boss throws hat in ring for police post |newspaper=The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald |url=http://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/towns/wiltshire/9734927.Union_boss_throws_hat_in_ring_for_police_post/ |accessdate=26 May 2014}}</ref> reaching the second round as Labour's candidate in the [[2012 England and Wales police and crime commissioner elections#Wiltshire Police|2012 election]].<ref name="bbc-20121116">{{cite news |date=16 November 2012 |title=Wiltshire police and crime commissioner results |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-19495666 |accessdate=26 May 2014}}</ref>
== European Parliamentary career == [[File:05-Mayo-17 Visita Claire Moody (31) (34309885242).jpg|thumb|left|Moody visiting [[Gibraltar]] in 2017]] Moody unsuccessfully contested [[South West England (European Parliament constituency)|South West England]] in the [[2004 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2004 European Parliament election]], in fourth position on the Labour Party list.<ref name="express-20100322" /> However, she was elected as a [[Member of the European Parliament|Member of European Parliament]] for the region in the [[2014 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|May 2014 elections]], now placed as the lead list candidate.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/eu-regions/E15000009 |title=vote 2014 - South West |publisher=BBC |accessdate=26 May 2014}}</ref>
During her tenure in the European Parliament, Moody served as vice-chair of the [[European Parliament Subcommittee on Security and Defence|Subcommittee on Security and Defence]]. She has also been a member of the [[European Parliament Committee on Budgets|Budget]], [[European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs|Foreign Affairs]], [[European Parliament Committee on Industry, Research and Energy|Industry, Research and Energy]], and [[European Parliament Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality|Women's Rights]] committees.<ref name=europarl-20190521>{{cite web |url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/124944/CLARE_MOODY/home |title=Clare MOODY |work=[[Europa (web portal)|Europa]] |publisher=European Parliament |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190521021939/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/124944/CLARE_MOODY/home |archive-date=21 May 2019}}</ref><ref name="parliamentmag-20181127">{{cite news |url=https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/articles/opinion/uk-must-remain-defence-player |title=UK must remain a defence player |last=Moody |first=Clare |website=The Parliament Magazine |publisher=Dods |date=27 November 2018 |accessdate=6 April 2019}}</ref><ref name="eurolabour-moody">{{cite web |url=http://www.eurolabour.org.uk/clare-moody-mep |title=Clare Moody MEP |publisher=Labour in Europe |accessdate=6 April 2019}}</ref>
She was a MEP delegate to the [[Euronest Parliamentary Assembly]], a group of [[former Soviet Union]] state parliaments in [[Eastern Europe]] aspiring to closer political and economic ties with the [[European Union]].<ref name=europarl-20190521/> She was co-chair of the Friends of Georgia group, and worked on the [[EU-Georgia Association Agreement]] through her Foreign Affairs committee membership.<ref name="agenda-20181114">{{cite news |url=http://agenda.ge/en/news/2018/2394 |title=MEP calls Georgia a star of the region for commitment to European values |website=Agenda.ge |date=14 November 2018 |accessdate=6 April 2019}}</ref><ref name="euractiv-20190129">{{cite news |last=Moody |first=Clare |date=29 January 2019 |title=With Salome Zurabishvili, Georgia leads the way, again |website=EURACTIV |url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/europe-s-east/opinion/with-salome-zurabishvili-georgia-leads-the-way-again/ |accessdate=6 April 2019}}</ref> Moody voted in favour of the [[Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market]] in 2019, despite concerns that the legislation enforced censorship on EU internet users.<ref name="guardian-20180620">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/jun/20/eu-votes-for-copyright-law-that-would-make-internet-a-tool-for-control |title=EU votes for copyright law that would make internet a 'tool for control' |newspaper=The Guardian |date=20 June 2018 |accessdate=26 March 2019}}</ref>
Moody lost her seat in the [[2019 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2019 European Parliament election]], when no Labour candidate was returned in South West England.
==Post-Parliamentary career== Moody was appointed Political Director at [[public relations]] company [[Grayling (PR firm)|Grayling]] in 2019, a subsidiary of [[Huntsworth]], where she later became Senior Strategic Director.<ref name="grayling-br">{{cite web |title=Welcome to Grayling Brussels PA |url=https://grayling.com/our-offices/brussels-pa/ |access-date=5 November 2021 |website=Grayling |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921223638/https://grayling.com/our-offices/brussels-pa/ |archive-date=21 September 2021}}</ref><ref name="bpcc-20210428">{{cite web |date=28 April 2021 |title=Grayling's report on how politicians across Europe are using social media |url=http://bpcc.org.pl/uploads/ckeditor/attachments/19242/GPol_-_European_survey_of_SM_use_amongst_MPs__Poland_highlighted_.pdf |access-date=5 November 2021 |work=Grayling |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105012249/http://bpcc.org.pl/uploads/ckeditor/attachments/19242/GPol_-_European_survey_of_SM_use_amongst_MPs__Poland_highlighted_.pdf |archive-date=5 November 2021}}</ref><ref name="grayling-healthcare">{{cite web |title=Healthcare |url=https://grayling.com/what-we-do/healthcare/ |access-date=5 November 2021 |website=Grayling |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525233538/https://grayling.com/what-we-do/healthcare/ |archive-date=25 May 2022}}</ref> In 2021, she was appointed co-CEO of the human rights and equality charity [[Equally Ours]].<ref name=":0">{{cite news |url=https://stroudtimes.com/former-mep-clare-moody-throws-hat-into-the-ring-for-stroud-labour-seat/ |title=Former MEP Clare Moody throws hat into the ring for Stroud Labour seat |last=Loveridge |first=Ashley |website=Stroud Times |date=9 June 2022 |access-date=5 July 2022}}</ref><ref name=equallyours-team>{{cite web |url=https://www.equallyours.org.uk/about-us/our-team/ |title=Our team |website=Equally Ours |access-date=30 June 2022}}</ref>
In 2022, Moody unsuccessfully stood to become the Labour Parliamentary candidate for [[Stroud (UK Parliament constituency)|Stroud]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name="guardian-20220701">{{cite news |last=Stewart |first=Heather |date=1 July 2022 |title=Starmer allies reject claims leftwingers blocked from standing for Labour |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jul/01/starmer-allies-reject-claims-leftwingers-blocked-from-standing-for-labour |access-date=5 July 2022 |newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref> She was later selected as the Labour candidate for the 2024 [[Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner]] election.<ref name="mnrnub-20240226">{{cite news |url=https://midsomernorton.nub.news/news/local-news/new-police-cuts-tories-demand-ps8-million-more-from-local-taxpayers-in-return-for-200-fewer-police-says-labour-pcc-candidate-221928 |title=New police cuts: Tories demand £8 million more from local taxpayers in return for 200 fewer police says Labour PCC candidate |website=Midsomer Norton and Radstock Nub News |date=26 February 2024 |access-date=12 March 2024}}</ref>
== Police and crime commissioner == Moody was elected [[Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner]] for the [[Labour and Co-operative Party]] on 3 May 2024.<ref name=results-20240503>{{cite web |url=https://www.avonpccelection.org.uk/election-count-2024 |title=Election count 2024 |website=Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner Election |publisher=Bath and North East Somerset Council |date=3 May 2024 |access-date=3 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Residents of Avon and Somerset elect Clare Moody as their Police and Crime Commissioner |url=https://www.avonandsomerset-pcc.gov.uk/news/2024/05/residents-of-avon-and-somerset-elect-clare-moody-as-their-police-and-crime-commissioner/ |website=Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner |publisher=Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset |access-date=3 May 2024}}</ref>
In February 2025, Moody proposed a 5% increase in the police precept part of council tax, which will raise an additional £8.5 million for the force. The councils' police and crime panel approved the increase. About 250 of 2,800 support staff had already been reduced, and further cuts of £6.4 million were planned for the following year.<ref name=bbc-20250204>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czj31jp04w7o |title=Police to charge 5% more in council tax from April |last=Bullock |first=Clara |work=BBC News |date=4 February 2025 |access-date=19 June 2025}}</ref> Moody stated the force still faced an £11 million deficit by 2030.<ref name=bbc-20250318>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2ljw44jj9eo |title=Avon and Somerset Police could face £11m deficit |last1=Darvall |first1=John |last2=Holmes |first2=Jonathan |work=BBC News |date=18 March 2025 |access-date=19 June 2025}}</ref>
== Political views == Moody supported the remain campaign in the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|2016 EU membership referendum]],<ref name="somersetcountygazette-20160202">{{cite news |date=2 February 2016 |title=Should we stay in the EU? MEP Clare Moody will say 'yes' at a Taunton meeting |newspaper=Somerset County Gazette |url=http://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/14247291.Should_we_stay_in_the_EU__MEP_Clare_Moody_will_say__yes__at_a_Taunton_meeting/ |accessdate=7 November 2016}}</ref> and supported a delay before [[United Kingdom invocation of Article 50|invoking Article 50]] to allow for negotiations post-referendum.<ref name="plymouthherald-20160928">{{cite news |date=28 September 2016 |title='Hard Brexit' will 'blow a hole' in the economy, warns Labour MEP |newspaper=The Herald |location=Plymouth |url=http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/hard-brexit-will-blow-a-hole-in-the-economy-warns-labour-mep/story-29759097-detail/story.html |accessdate=7 November 2016}}{{Dead link|date=July 2020|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> She supported Britain staying in the [[European single market]] and the [[European Union Customs Union|Customs Union]] post-[[Brexit]].<ref name=labourlist-20170622>{{cite news |url=https://labourlist.org/2017/06/after-mays-election-failure-we-need-to-hit-the-reset-button-on-brexit-negotiations/ |title=After May's election failure, we need to hit the reset button on Brexit negotiations |last=Moody |first=Clare |website=LabourList |date=22 June 2017 |access-date=11 September 2023}}</ref> She chaired the [[Labour Movement for Europe]] from 2017 to 2019, and campaigned for [[Proposed referendum on the Brexit withdrawal agreement|a second referendum]] on the final Brexit deal.<ref name=labourlist-20190429>{{cite news |url=https://labourlist.org/2019/04/23-labour-mep-candidates-sign-public-vote-pledge/ |title=34 Labour MEP candidates sign public vote pledge |last=Rodgers |first=Sienna |website=LabourList |date=29 April 2019 |access-date=7 September 2023}}</ref>
In 2018, Moody argued that the EU and UK defence and security relationship should remain close despite [[Brexit]], and that closer [[European Union–NATO relations]] would assist in that and reduce wasteful duplication of effort.<ref name=parliamentmag-20181127/>
She credited the loss of her European Parliamentary seat in 2019 to Labour's [[Brexit]] position, arguing that the party needed to adopt a clear pro-EU stance.<ref name="cornwalllive-20190527">{{cite news |last=Jenkins |first=Philippa |date=27 May 2019 |title=Former Labour MEP Clare Moody says 'voters have had enough' after losing her seat |website=CornwalLlive |url=https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/former-labour-mep-clare-moody-2912180 |accessdate=15 June 2019}}</ref> In 2023, ''[[The New European]]'' reported that she acknowledged Britain would not rejoin in the next parliament, but believed rejoining "will become a question again. For a growth agenda, we have to fix our relationship with the EU."<ref name=neweuropean-20230131>{{cite news |url=https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/what-britains-meps-did-next/ |title=What Britain's MEPs did next |last=Beckett |first=Francis |website=The New European |date=31 January 2023 |access-date=21 November 2023}}</ref>
Moody supported [[Yvette Cooper]] in the [[2015 Labour Party leadership election (UK)|2015 Labour Party leadership election]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-07-10 |title=Unparalleled Ambition for Britain - Why I'm Backing Yvette for Labour Leader |url=https://huffingtonpost.co.uk.trem.media/clare-moody-mep/yvette-cooper-leader_b_7762342.html |access-date=2022-06-12 |website=HuffPost UK |language=en}}</ref> During the leadership challenge to [[Jeremy Corbyn]] in [[2016 Labour Party leadership election (UK)|June 2016]], she supported calls for his resignation.<ref name="plymouthherald-20160629">{{cite news |date=29 June 2016 |title=South West MEP backs calls for Jeremy Corbyn to stand down |newspaper=The Herald |location=Plymouth |url=http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/south-west-mep-backs-calls-for-jeremy-corbyn-to-stand-down/story-29459466-detail/story.html |accessdate=7 November 2016}}{{Dead link|date=July 2020|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref><ref name=ousb-20170110>{{cite web |url=https://www.oxfordsociety.be/ousb_democracy_debate |title=Democracy Debate - This House Believes that Democracy Failed in 2016 |website=Oxford Society of Belgium |date=10 January 2017 |access-date=19 June 2025}}</ref>
==Personal life== Moody has resided in [[Salisbury]], Wiltshire.<ref name="express-20100322" /> She has a son.<ref name=salisburystory-moody/>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{official website}}
{{Current Police and Crime Commissioners of England and Wales}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Moody, Clare}} [[Category:1965 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Labour Party (UK) MEPs]] [[Category:MEPs for England 2014–2019]] [[Category:21st-century women MEPs for England]] [[Category:Unite the Union]] [[Category:People from Burford]] [[Category:People from Chipping Norton]] [[Category:Politicians from Salisbury]] [[Category:Labour Party (UK) parliamentary candidates]] [[Category:Alumni of the University of Kent]] [[Category:Labour Party police and crime commissioners]] [[Category:Labour Co-operative police and crime commissioners]]