Candidates - Legal Requirements

1. Candidates must be British citizens, other Commonwealth citizens or citizens of the Republic of Ireland over the age of 21. European Union citizens are not eligible to be Parliamentary candidates, although they may stand at local government and European Parliament elections.

2. Those disqualified from standing as candidates at a parliamentary election or sitting in the House of Commons include:-
   • Peers (unless they have disclaimed their peerages)
   • Undischarged bankrupts
   • Clergy of the Church of England, the Church of Scotland, the Church of Ireland and the Roman Catholic Church
   • Certain people holding offices of profit under the Crown (including holders of judicial office, civil servants, members of the armed forces, or the police forces, members of the legislature of any country or territory outside the Commonwealth, Government-nominated directors of commercial companies).
   • Prisoners: under the Representation of the People Act 1981 a person found guilty of one or more offences and sentenced to more than 12 months is disqualified while detained in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland
   • People found guilty of certain electoral offences (corrupt or illegal practices)

3. Nomination - Candidates must be proposed and seconded by two electors and eight others as "assentors". Candidates must consent in writing to their own nomination. It is possible to be nominated for more than one constituency but, if successful, a candidate must choose which to represent within 1 week of the time for petitioning having expired (which is 21 days after the return of the election result).

   The ballot paper may contain a 6-word personal or political description of the candidate. Once Parliament is dissolved there are no MPs, so candidates who were MPs may not describe themselves as such on the ballot paper.

4. Acceptance - The acting returning officer can refuse to accept a nomination paper if the particulars are not as required by law, if the nomination paper is incorrectly subscribed, or if the candidate is disqualified by the RPA 1981. He is not required to ascertain whether a candidate is qualified.

5. Deposit - Candidates must deposit the sum of £500 with the acting returning officer when nomination papers are delivered."

   Finance rules
   Nomination Papers and Deposits
   Voting Procedure