Information for candidates and agents

The General Election took place on Thursday 4 July 2024.

Notice of election

Who can stand as an MP

To stand as a candidate in a UK Parliamentary General Election you need to be at least 18 years old and a:

British citizen
citizen of the Republic of Ireland
citizen of a Commonwealth country who does not require leave to enter or remain in the UK, or has indefinite leave to remain in the UK

Who cannot stand as an MP

Certain groups of people are not allowed to stand, these include:

members of the police forces
members of the armed forces
civil servants and judges
people who are subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order in England or Wales or a debt relief restrictions order
people who have been adjudged bankrupt in Northern Ireland
people who have had their estate sequestrated in Scotland

Declaring your candidacy

Once Parliament has dissolved, you can declare that you are a candidate for election, or others can declare your candidacy. The timing of this declaration will have an impact on your spending limits and entitle you to a free copy of the electoral register.

Nominations

For your name to appear on a ballot paper, you need to become a 'validly nominated' candidate.

To do this, you need to submit a completed set of nomination forms together with a deposit of £500 to the (Acting) Returning Officer before 4pm on the deadline day for nominations.

Election agent

Every candidate must have an election agent. This is the person responsible in law for the proper management, particularly in terms of finances, of your election campaign. If you wish, you may act as your own agent.

For more information, read the Electoral Commission's guidance for candidates and agents.