Petition · past parliament · Office of the Leader of the House of Commons
Require general election candidates to live in the area where they are standing
Closed
79 signatures
What the petition asks
The Government should make it a legal requirement that prospective parliamentary candidates be residents of the constituency where they are standing for election, for at least two years prior to the election.
This should curb the 'parachuting in' of candidates with no connection to their constituencies and make Parliament more representative.
Under the Representation of the People Act 2000, voters must prove they are resident in their constituency in order to be included in the Electoral Register. However, there is no such residency requirement for prospective candidates prior to an election, meaning they too often have little or no understanding of local issues.
Under the Representation of the People Act 2000, voters must prove they are resident in their constituency in order to be included in the Electoral Register. However, there is no such residency requirement for prospective candidates prior to an election, meaning they too often have little or no understanding of local issues.
Timeline
| 7 Jun 2022 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 21 Dec 2022 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
79
Status
Closed
Department
Office of the Leader of the House of Commons
Opened
7 Jun 2022
Closed
21 Dec 2022
Follow this petition
Sign in to get an email when the government responds, a debate is scheduled or held, or the petition closes.
Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.