Offence of making a false statement on a nomination paper
You should remind any person delivering the nomination papers that it is a criminal offence to knowingly make a false statement on nomination papers. If the nomination form includes a commonly used name, you should highlight that the offence also applies if a candidate has given a commonly used name that they do not actually commonly use. You may warn candidates that the penalty for a false statement is either an unlimited fine in England and Wales, £10,000 in Scotland and/or up to one year’s imprisonment.1
You should not give advice on questions of candidates’ eligibility or disqualification but should direct them to our guidance for candidates and agents at UK Parliamentary general elections and UK Parliamentary by-elections in the first instance. You should advise them to seek their own legal advice should they have any further concerns.