Guidance for Candidates and Agents at UK Parliamentary general elections in Northern Ireland Share on Email Print this page Print full guidance You are in the Disqualifications section Guidance for Candidates and Agents at UK Parliamentary general elections in Northern Ireland What you need to know before you stand as a candidate Qualifications and disqualifications for standing for election Disqualifications Disqualifying offices Certain post-holders are disqualified from becoming a Member of Parliament. These include:1 civil servantsmembers of police forcesmembers of the armed forcesgovernment-nominated directors of commercial companiesjudgesmembers of the legislature of any country or territory outside the Commonwealth (other than Ireland)peers who sit and can vote in the House of Lordsbishops of the Church of England (known as the Lords Spiritual) who are entitled to sit and vote in the House of LordsThis list is not comprehensive and detailed lists of disqualifying offices are set out in the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 (as amended). 1. Section 1 House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 ↩ Back to content at footnote 1 Last updated: 24 May 2024 Book traversal links for Disqualifying offices Disqualifications Bankruptcy restrictions or interim orders