Marisa Heath, a Surrey County Councillor and the Surrey Cabinet member for Environment, has been selected as the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Dorking & Horley at the next general election. She will defend the seat for the Conservatives following the retirement of current MP, Sir Paul Beresford.
On 9 October 2023, members of Dorking & Horley Conservative Association voted to select Cllr Heath as their candidate at a Special General Meeting.
Marisa has been a Surrey County Councillor since 2006.
She was appointed Cabinet Member for Environment in November 2020 and her focus has been on enhancing Surrey’s green space, supporting local farmers and driving the work on nature recovery.
Marisa sits on the Surrey Hills Board (AONB) and has worked with many of the Surrey Hills’ businesses.
Marisa has been an active campaigner on many crucial local issues.
These include helping to establish community facilities to support vulnerable residents, fighting for fairer funding for Surrey to improve roads and tackling flooding and water pollution.
Marissa was closely involved in the work around Heathrow expansion and plans to bring that expertise to the issues surrounding Gatwick’s proposals.
Previously, Marisa has been an advisor to a range of businesses and NGOs on issues around food production, sustainability and animal welfare.
She has sat on a Government Task Group to support local and smaller scale farming, has campaigned against livestock worrying and is looking forward to working with Surrey’s farmer’s and food producers.
Speaking after her selection as candidate, Cllr Heath said:
“I am immensely honoured to be selected as the next Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Dorking & Horley. This is a phenomenal constituency, and I am looking forward to meeting residents, businesses and community groups across the area. I already understand many of the issues that matter to Dorking & Horley so I can hit the ground running.
I have twenty years of experience in legislative reform and leading change so I am confident that the skills and experience that I can bring to Parliament will ensure a strong and effective voice for Dorking & Horley.
As we approach the next general election, I am looking forward to running a positive and respectful campaign that the people of this constituency expect and deserve.”
Sir Paul Beresford, current Member of Parliament for Mole Valley said:
“I’m delighted that Marisa will be the Conservative candidate for Dorking & Horley at the next General Election. Even out of an exemplary slate of applicants she stood out as particularly impressive and I have no doubt that she will be a fantastic Member of Parliament.
The issues we face in our area are complex and only getting more so; from Gatwick expansion to protecting our Green Belt and revitalising our towns – and we absolutely need a hardworking, insightful and experienced MP to lead in all these areas. Marisa will be that MP and I very much look forward to working with her between now and the next General Election.”
