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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 29th April 2025 to question 46179 on Councillors: Disqualification, whether a criminal conviction resulting in a custodial sentence of three months or more would disqualify an individual from appointment as a metro mayor.

Yes, an individual would be disqualified from being a metro mayor candidate or holding the office in these circumstances.

The five-year disqualification for a criminal conviction that results in a custodial sentence of three months or more, suspended or not, applies to all elected mayors, including metro mayors, other than in cases where a mayor also holds the Police and Crime Commissioner function. Where a mayor also holds the Police and Crime Commissioner function, they are disqualified if they have ever been convicted of an imprisonable offence.

The Electoral Commission publishes guidance on disqualifications for single authority, combined authority, combined county authority and Greater London Authority mayoral candidates online.