Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what is her department’s policy on candidates standing for election to (a) local government and (b) the UK Parliament on being resident in the United Kingdom; and what is her policy on residency requirements for those who are elected, over and above the provisions of Section 41 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010; and what is her policy on registered overseas electors participating in elections.

Section 79 of the Local Government Act 1972 sets out that to qualify for election to local government the candidate must demonstrate connection to the area either by being registered as a local government elector, residing, working or occupying land as an owner or tenant in their local authority area.

The Representation of the People Act 1983 Schedule 1 (2) requires that a candidate for a UK Parliamentary election not be disqualified from standing by the Representation of the People Act 1981 or by virtue of an order under section 30 of the Elections Act 2022. There is no requirement that they be resident in the UK.

Once elected, MPs are not required to reside in any specific location and are ultimately accountable to their constituents, who give MPs their mandate at each general election.

Registered overseas electors are not subject to any special candidacy requirements and are subject to the same requirements as UK residents.