# Clare Moody

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British Labour politician

For the television and stage actor and producer, see [Clare Lawrence Moody](/source/Clare_Lawrence_Moody).

Clare Moody Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset Incumbent Assumed office 9 May 2024 Preceded by Mark Shelford Member of the European Parliament for South West England In office 1 July 2014 – 1 July 2019 Personal details Born Clare Miranda Moody (1965-10-30) 30 October 1965 (age 60) Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, England Party Labour Alma mater University of Kent Website Official website

**Clare Miranda Moody** (born 30 October 1965) is a British politician serving as [Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset](/source/Avon_and_Somerset_Police_and_Crime_Commissioner) since 2024. A member of the [Labour Party](/source/Labour_Party_(UK)), she served as a [Member of the European Parliament](/source/Member_of_the_European_Parliament) (MEP) for [South West England](/source/South_West_England_(European_Parliament_constituency)) from 2014 to 2019.

## Early life and career

Clare Miranda Moody was born on 30 October 1965 in [Chipping Norton](/source/Chipping_Norton), Oxfordshire to Joan and Raymond Moody.[1][2] Brought up in [Burford](/source/Burford), her father served as town mayor and both her parents were [Conservative Party](/source/Conservative_Party_(UK)) activists.[3][2]

Moody trained as a secretary. Later she studied [industrial relations](/source/Industrial_relations) at the [University of Kent](/source/University_of_Kent) and began her career in trade unionism at the [Banking, Insurance and Finance Union (BIFU)](/source/Banking%2C_Insurance_and_Finance_Union).[4] BIFU went through several amalgamations to become [UNIFI](/source/UNIFI_(trade_union)), [Amicus](/source/Amicus_(trade_union)), and later [Unite](/source/Unite_the_Union), where she worked as a regional officer in [Bournemouth](/source/Bournemouth).[5]

Moody worked in the [Number 10 Policy Unit](/source/Number_10_Policy_Unit) under Prime Minister [Gordon Brown](/source/Gordon_Brown).[3][6] She was the Labour candidate for [Salisbury](/source/Salisbury_(UK_Parliament_constituency)), a safe Conservative seat, at the [2005 general election](/source/2005_United_Kingdom_general_election).[3] Moody also stood to become the inaugural [Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner](/source/Wiltshire_Police_and_Crime_Commissioner),[7] reaching the second round as Labour's candidate in the [2012 election](/source/2012_England_and_Wales_police_and_crime_commissioner_elections#Wiltshire_Police).[8]

## European Parliamentary career

Moody visiting [Gibraltar](/source/Gibraltar) in 2017

Moody unsuccessfully contested [South West England](/source/South_West_England_(European_Parliament_constituency)) in the [2004 European Parliament election](/source/2004_European_Parliament_election_in_the_United_Kingdom), in fourth position on the Labour Party list.[3] However, she was elected as a [Member of European Parliament](/source/Member_of_the_European_Parliament) for the region in the [May 2014 elections](/source/2014_European_Parliament_election_in_the_United_Kingdom), now placed as the lead list candidate.[9]

During her tenure in the European Parliament, Moody served as vice-chair of the [Subcommittee on Security and Defence](/source/European_Parliament_Subcommittee_on_Security_and_Defence). She has also been a member of the [Budget](/source/European_Parliament_Committee_on_Budgets), [Foreign Affairs](/source/European_Parliament_Committee_on_Foreign_Affairs), [Industry, Research and Energy](/source/European_Parliament_Committee_on_Industry%2C_Research_and_Energy), and [Women's Rights](/source/European_Parliament_Committee_on_Women's_Rights_and_Gender_Equality) committees.[10][11][12]

She was a MEP delegate to the [Euronest Parliamentary Assembly](/source/Euronest_Parliamentary_Assembly), a group of [former Soviet Union](/source/Former_Soviet_Union) state parliaments in [Eastern Europe](/source/Eastern_Europe) aspiring to closer political and economic ties with the [European Union](/source/European_Union).[10] She was co-chair of the Friends of Georgia group, and worked on the [EU-Georgia Association Agreement](/source/EU-Georgia_Association_Agreement) through her Foreign Affairs committee membership.[13][14] Moody voted in favour of the [Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market](/source/Directive_on_Copyright_in_the_Digital_Single_Market) in 2019, despite concerns that the legislation enforced censorship on EU internet users.[15]

Moody lost her seat in the [2019 European Parliament election](/source/2019_European_Parliament_election_in_the_United_Kingdom), when no Labour candidate was returned in South West England.

## Post-Parliamentary career

Moody was appointed Political Director at [public relations](/source/Public_relations) company [Grayling](/source/Grayling_(PR_firm)) in 2019, a subsidiary of [Huntsworth](/source/Huntsworth), where she later became Senior Strategic Director.[16][17][18] In 2021, she was appointed co-CEO of the human rights and equality charity [Equally Ours](/source/Equally_Ours).[19][20]

In 2022, Moody unsuccessfully stood to become the Labour Parliamentary candidate for [Stroud](/source/Stroud_(UK_Parliament_constituency)).[19][21] She was later selected as the Labour candidate for the 2024 [Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner](/source/Avon_and_Somerset_Police_and_Crime_Commissioner) election.[22]

## Police and crime commissioner

Moody was elected [Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner](/source/Avon_and_Somerset_Police_and_Crime_Commissioner) for the [Labour and Co-operative Party](/source/Labour_and_Co-operative_Party) on 3 May 2024.[23][24]

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.[25] Moody stated the force still faced an £11 million deficit by 2030.[26]

## Political views

Moody supported the remain campaign in the [2016 EU membership referendum](/source/2016_United_Kingdom_European_Union_membership_referendum),[27] and supported a delay before [invoking Article 50](/source/United_Kingdom_invocation_of_Article_50) to allow for negotiations post-referendum.[28] She supported Britain staying in the [European single market](/source/European_single_market) and the [Customs Union](/source/European_Union_Customs_Union) post-[Brexit](/source/Brexit).[29] She chaired the [Labour Movement for Europe](/source/Labour_Movement_for_Europe) from 2017 to 2019, and campaigned for [a second referendum](/source/Proposed_referendum_on_the_Brexit_withdrawal_agreement) on the final Brexit deal.[30]

In 2018, Moody argued that the EU and UK defence and security relationship should remain close despite [Brexit](/source/Brexit), and that closer [European Union–NATO relations](/source/European_Union%E2%80%93NATO_relations) would assist in that and reduce wasteful duplication of effort.[11]

She credited the loss of her European Parliamentary seat in 2019 to Labour's [Brexit](/source/Brexit) position, arguing that the party needed to adopt a clear pro-EU stance.[31] In 2023, *[The New European](/source/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."[32]

Moody supported [Yvette Cooper](/source/Yvette_Cooper) in the [2015 Labour Party leadership election](/source/2015_Labour_Party_leadership_election_(UK)).[33] During the leadership challenge to [Jeremy Corbyn](/source/Jeremy_Corbyn) in [June 2016](/source/2016_Labour_Party_leadership_election_(UK)), she supported calls for his resignation.[34][35]

## Personal life

Moody has resided in [Salisbury](/source/Salisbury), Wiltshire.[3] She has a son.[4]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-EP-webpage_1-0)** ["Clare MOODY"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140715190119/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/124944/CLARE_MOODY_home.html). *[Europa](/source/Europa_(web_portal))*. European Parliament. Archived from [the original](http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/124944/CLARE_MOODY_home.html) on 15 July 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2014.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-tbb-201712_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-tbb-201712_2-1) ["Interview: Raymond & Joan Moody"](https://www.thebridgeburford.co.uk/BridgeInterviews/2016-12). *The Bridge Magazine*. December 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-express-20100322_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-express-20100322_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-express-20100322_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-express-20100322_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-express-20100322_3-4) Sarah O'Grady (22 March 2010). ["Tory roots of Brown's aide Clare Moody"](http://www.express.co.uk/expressyourself/164523/Tory-roots-of-Brown-s-aide-Clare-Moody). *[Daily Express](/source/Daily_Express)*. Retrieved 26 May 2014.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-salisburystory-moody_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-salisburystory-moody_4-1) ["Clare Moody"](https://hersalisburystory.com/stories/clare-moody/). *Her Salisbury Story*. Retrieved 30 June 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Contact us - Unite in the South West"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140527211836/http://www.unitetheunion.org/how-we-help/listofregions/southwest/contactus/). Unite the Union. Archived from [the original](http://www.unitetheunion.org/how-we-help/listofregions/southwest/contactus/) on 27 May 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["European elections 2014: Labour aim to get back on South West map"](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-27364809). *BBC News*. 12 May 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Union boss throws hat in ring for police post"](http://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/towns/wiltshire/9734927.Union_boss_throws_hat_in_ring_for_police_post/). *The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald*. 1 June 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-bbc-20121116_8-0)** ["Wiltshire police and crime commissioner results"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-19495666). BBC. 16 November 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["vote 2014 - South West"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/eu-regions/E15000009). BBC. Retrieved 26 May 2014.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-europarl-20190521_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-europarl-20190521_10-1) ["Clare MOODY"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190521021939/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/124944/CLARE_MOODY/home). *[Europa](/source/Europa_(web_portal))*. European Parliament. Archived from [the original](http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/124944/CLARE_MOODY/home) on 21 May 2019.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-parliamentmag-20181127_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-parliamentmag-20181127_11-1) Moody, Clare (27 November 2018). ["UK must remain a defence player"](https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/articles/opinion/uk-must-remain-defence-player). *The Parliament Magazine*. Dods. Retrieved 6 April 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-eurolabour-moody_12-0)** ["Clare Moody MEP"](http://www.eurolabour.org.uk/clare-moody-mep). Labour in Europe. Retrieved 6 April 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-agenda-20181114_13-0)** ["MEP calls Georgia a star of the region for commitment to European values"](http://agenda.ge/en/news/2018/2394). *Agenda.ge*. 14 November 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-euractiv-20190129_14-0)** Moody, Clare (29 January 2019). ["With Salome Zurabishvili, Georgia leads the way, again"](https://www.euractiv.com/section/europe-s-east/opinion/with-salome-zurabishvili-georgia-leads-the-way-again/). *EURACTIV*. Retrieved 6 April 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-guardian-20180620_15-0)** ["EU votes for copyright law that would make internet a 'tool for control'"](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/jun/20/eu-votes-for-copyright-law-that-would-make-internet-a-tool-for-control). *The Guardian*. 20 June 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-grayling-br_16-0)** ["Welcome to Grayling Brussels PA"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210921223638/https://grayling.com/our-offices/brussels-pa/). *Grayling*. Archived from [the original](https://grayling.com/our-offices/brussels-pa/) on 21 September 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-bpcc-20210428_17-0)** ["Grayling's report on how politicians across Europe are using social media"](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) (PDF). *Grayling*. 28 April 2021. Archived from [the original](http://bpcc.org.pl/uploads/ckeditor/attachments/19242/GPol_-_European_survey_of_SM_use_amongst_MPs__Poland_highlighted_.pdf) (PDF) on 5 November 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-grayling-healthcare_18-0)** ["Healthcare"](https://web.archive.org/web/20220525233538/https://grayling.com/what-we-do/healthcare/). *Grayling*. Archived from [the original](https://grayling.com/what-we-do/healthcare/) on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 5 November 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_19-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_19-1) Loveridge, Ashley (9 June 2022). ["Former MEP Clare Moody throws hat into the ring for Stroud Labour seat"](https://stroudtimes.com/former-mep-clare-moody-throws-hat-into-the-ring-for-stroud-labour-seat/). *Stroud Times*. Retrieved 5 July 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-equallyours-team_20-0)** ["Our team"](https://www.equallyours.org.uk/about-us/our-team/). *Equally Ours*. Retrieved 30 June 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-guardian-20220701_21-0)** Stewart, Heather (1 July 2022). ["Starmer allies reject claims leftwingers blocked from standing for Labour"](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jul/01/starmer-allies-reject-claims-leftwingers-blocked-from-standing-for-labour). *The Guardian*. Retrieved 5 July 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-mnrnub-20240226_22-0)** ["New police cuts: Tories demand £8 million more from local taxpayers in return for 200 fewer police says Labour PCC candidate"](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). *Midsomer Norton and Radstock Nub News*. 26 February 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-results-20240503_23-0)** ["Election count 2024"](https://www.avonpccelection.org.uk/election-count-2024). *Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner Election*. Bath and North East Somerset Council. 3 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** ["Residents of Avon and Somerset elect Clare Moody as their Police and Crime Commissioner"](https://www.avonandsomerset-pcc.gov.uk/news/2024/05/residents-of-avon-and-somerset-elect-clare-moody-as-their-police-and-crime-commissioner/). *Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner*. Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset. Retrieved 3 May 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-bbc-20250204_25-0)** Bullock, Clara (4 February 2025). ["Police to charge 5% more in council tax from April"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czj31jp04w7o). *BBC News*. Retrieved 19 June 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-bbc-20250318_26-0)** Darvall, John; Holmes, Jonathan (18 March 2025). ["Avon and Somerset Police could face £11m deficit"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2ljw44jj9eo). *BBC News*. Retrieved 19 June 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-somersetcountygazette-20160202_27-0)** ["Should we stay in the EU? MEP Clare Moody will say 'yes' at a Taunton meeting"](http://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/14247291.Should_we_stay_in_the_EU__MEP_Clare_Moody_will_say__yes__at_a_Taunton_meeting/). *Somerset County Gazette*. 2 February 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-plymouthherald-20160928_28-0)** ["'Hard Brexit' will 'blow a hole' in the economy, warns Labour MEP"](http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/hard-brexit-will-blow-a-hole-in-the-economy-warns-labour-mep/story-29759097-detail/story.html). *The Herald*. Plymouth. 28 September 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-labourlist-20170622_29-0)** Moody, Clare (22 June 2017). ["After May's election failure, we need to hit the reset button on Brexit negotiations"](https://labourlist.org/2017/06/after-mays-election-failure-we-need-to-hit-the-reset-button-on-brexit-negotiations/). *LabourList*. Retrieved 11 September 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-labourlist-20190429_30-0)** Rodgers, Sienna (29 April 2019). ["34 Labour MEP candidates sign public vote pledge"](https://labourlist.org/2019/04/23-labour-mep-candidates-sign-public-vote-pledge/). *LabourList*. Retrieved 7 September 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-cornwalllive-20190527_31-0)** Jenkins, Philippa (27 May 2019). ["Former Labour MEP Clare Moody says 'voters have had enough' after losing her seat"](https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/former-labour-mep-clare-moody-2912180). *CornwalLlive*. Retrieved 15 June 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-neweuropean-20230131_32-0)** Beckett, Francis (31 January 2023). ["What Britain's MEPs did next"](https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/what-britains-meps-did-next/). *The New European*. Retrieved 21 November 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-33)** ["Unparalleled Ambition for Britain - Why I'm Backing Yvette for Labour Leader"](https://huffingtonpost.co.uk.trem.media/clare-moody-mep/yvette-cooper-leader_b_7762342.html). *HuffPost UK*. 10 July 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-plymouthherald-20160629_34-0)** ["South West MEP backs calls for Jeremy Corbyn to stand down"](http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/south-west-mep-backs-calls-for-jeremy-corbyn-to-stand-down/story-29459466-detail/story.html). *The Herald*. Plymouth. 29 June 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ousb-20170110_35-0)** ["Democracy Debate - This House Believes that Democracy Failed in 2016"](https://www.oxfordsociety.be/ousb_democracy_debate). *Oxford Society of Belgium*. 10 January 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2025.

## External links

[Official website](https://www.claremoody.com/)

v t e Police and crime commissioners of England and Wales Police and crime commissioners in England Avon and Somerset: Clare Moody Bedfordshire: John Tizard Cambridgeshire: Darryl Preston Cheshire: Dan Price Cleveland: Matt Storey Derbyshire: Nicolle Ndiweni Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly: Alison Hernandez Dorset: David Sidwick Durham: Joy Allen Gloucestershire: Chris Nelson Hampshire & Isle of Wight: Donna Jones Hertfordshire: Jonathan Ash-Edwards Humberside: Jonathan Evison Kent: Matthew Scott Lancashire: Clive Grunshaw Leicestershire: Rupert Matthews Lincolnshire: Marc Jones Merseyside: Emily Spurrell Norfolk: Sarah Taylor Northumbria: Susan Dungworth Nottinghamshire: Gary Godden Suffolk: Tim Passmore Surrey: Lisa Townsend Sussex: Katy Bourne Thames Valley: Matthew Barber Warwickshire: Philip Seccombe West Mercia: John Campion West Midlands: Simon Foster Wiltshire: Philip Wilkinson Police, fire and crime commissioners in England Cumbria: David Allen Essex: Roger Hirst Northamptonshire: Danielle Stone Staffordshire: Ben Adams Police and crime commissioners in Wales Dyfed-Powys: Dafydd Llywelyn Gwent: Jane Mudd North Wales: Andy Dunbobbin South Wales: Emma Wools Mayors who exercise police and crime commissioner functions South Yorkshire: Oliver Coppard West Yorkshire: Tracy Brabin Mayors who exercise police, fire and crime commissioner functions Greater Manchester: Andy Burnham London: Sadiq Khan York & North Yorkshire: David Skaith

Authority control databases: People MEP directory

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Clare Moody](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clare_Moody) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clare_Moody?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.