How to stand as a candidate

If you want to serve as a councillor, you’ll need to stand as a candidate and be elected at a local council election.

You can choose to represent a political party or stand independently.

Standing as a political party candidate

To stand for a political party, you need to be a member of that party’s local group. Contact the local political party branch for information on how to join and how they select their election candidates.

Standing as an independent candidate

If you prefer to stand on your own, you can run as an independent candidate. Guidance is available from the Local Government Association (LGA) Independent Group.

You can view more information on the roles, responsibilities and qualifications of a councillor on the Local Government Association website.

Nomination period

To formally stand as a candidate, you must submit a completed nomination paper to the Returning Officer during the election’s nomination period. You will need two people, one to propose your nomination and the other to second your nomination.

2026 Hounslow Council Elections – prospective candidates and agents briefing

The Returning Officer will be providing a briefing for anyone interested in standing as a candidate or acting as an agent for the 2026 Hounslow Council elections.  The briefing will provide key information on:

• How to complete your nomination papers
• The nomination process
• The election timetable
• The code of conduct
• Candidate spending

To attend, please complete this short form to register your interest.

Further guidance for candidates and agents is also available on the Electoral Commission website.