Guidance for Candidates and Agents at local government elections in England

Candidates who are party members or holders of elective office

If you are a member of a registered political party or you already hold some relevant elected office, you need to follow rules about donations and loans to you that relate to political activity before the regulated period. For instance, you may be given donations to help fund your campaign to be selected as a candidate.

Holders of elected office are:1

  • a member of the UK Parliament 
  • a member of the Scottish Parliament 
  • a member of the Senedd 
  • a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly 
  • a combined authority mayor
  • a member of any local authority in the UK, excluding parish or community councils 
  • a member of the Greater London Assembly 
  • the Mayor of London or any other elected mayor 
  • a Police and Crime Commissioner 

We call these individuals 'regulated donees'. Only certain permissible sources can donate more than £500 or enter into a loan of more than £500 with regulated donees.2  You must check permissibility before entering into a loan and you have 30 days from receipt of a donation to conduct permissibility checks and return it if it is impermissible.3

If you accept a donation or enter into a loan of more than £2,230 (or donations or loans from one source that in aggregate amount to more than £2,230), you must report it to us within 30 days of accepting the donation or entering into the loan.4

If you are elected, you will also be covered by these rules after you are elected.

You can find our guidance on these rules on our website.

If you hold one of these elected offices and intend to stand for election, you should also make sure that neither office disqualifies you from holding the other.

More information about disqualifications is available in Qualifications and disqualifications for standing for election.

Last updated: 8 July 2024