Petition · past parliament · Cabinet Office
Require MP candidates to live in the constituency for a minimum of 5 years
Closed
78 signatures
What the petition asks
We ask that prospective parliamentary candidates be required to live in the constituency they wish to represent for a minimum of 5 years, before they stand for election. We would allow for certain exceptions to this rule due to constituency boundary changes.
The role of an MP is to represent the interests of constituents. Currently a candidate is able to stand for election in a constituency that they could live hundreds of miles away from or even in another (overseas) country. We believe an MP can most effectively represent a constituency if they have lived there and have a clear understanding of the needs and challenges of its residents as well as the political and economic context of that constituency.
Timeline
| 22 Feb 2023 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 22 Aug 2023 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
78
Status
Closed
Department
Cabinet Office
Opened
22 Feb 2023
Closed
22 Aug 2023
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.