Councillors and committees: Councillors

How do I become a councillor?

There are two main ways to stand as a councillor, you could:

  • Represent a political party (after a formal selection process)
  • Stand in your own right as an "independent"

Many people choose to stand in local elections as a representative of a political party. But individuals can stand in their own right as an "independent". Where people stand on behalf of a political party they will have gone through a formal selection process.

To stand as a councillor in South Tyneside they:

  • Must be aged 18 or over and live or work in the borough, or own property here
  • Must not work for South Tyneside Council or hold a politically restricted post at another council
  • Must not be bankrupt or have been sentenced to prison for three months or more in the past five years
  • Must be nominated and seconded and supported by eight other people from the ward they want to stand in

Nomination papers can only be accepted for a limited period after the official notice of election has been published. If you would like a nomination paper and an election timetable please contact the elections office.

See also


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