Petition · past parliament · Cabinet Office

Any prospective candidate for MP must have lived in the constituency for 10 year

Closed 34 signatures

What the petition asks

Prospective parliamentary candidates must be required to have lived in the constituency in which they are standing for election for at least 10 years.
Many MPs have not lived in their constituencies prior to being nominated by a party. This has created, at least in the minds of many of the electorate, a disconnection between the real needs of a constituency and the "career politics" seemingly demonstrated by some MPs.

This would help to ensure constituencies are not represented by career politicians more concerned with personal advancement than representing their electorate. It should also stop political parties "parachuting" individual candidates into areas purely because that area is seen as a safe seat. Individuals who have lived, and preferably been employed, in a constituency for at least a decade may be able to better connect to the electorate.

Timeline

17 Aug 2022 Petition opened for signatures
3 Mar 2023 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 34
Status Closed
Department Cabinet Office
Opened 17 Aug 2022
Closed 3 Mar 2023

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.