‘Embarrassing’: Green Party forced into by-election after winner ineligible to be councillor

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Greens are very popular in this constituency. Theyll most likely win the by-election

https://www.camden.gov.uk/local-election-may-2026-results-regents-park-ward

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They should just give the seat to whoever came second for anyone who is ineligible or stands down within a month of getting elected.

It’s not a “scandal” really, but this was always going to be the outcome if he won so it’s just a weird thing to do, and I don’t understand why nobody realised this beforehand.

I’d definitely take this over Reform’s actual scandals, but I do wonder what exactly the plan was here. This isn’t some weird hidden secret rule that he was unable to discover.

If you google “how to become a councillor”, there’s a [gov.uk](http://gov.uk) site specifically for it, right here:

[https://www.gov.uk/become-councillor](https://www.gov.uk/become-councillor)

From here I went:

[local government elections in England](https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance-candidates-and-agents-local-government-elections-england) > [What you need to know before you stand as a candidate](https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance-candidates-and-agents-local-government-elections-england/what-you-need-know-you-stand-a-candidate) > [Qualifications and disqualifications for standing for election](https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance-candidates-and-agents-local-government-elections-england/what-you-need-know-you-stand-a-candidate/qualifications-and-disqualifications-standing-election) > [disqualifications](https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance-candidates-and-agents-local-government-elections-england/what-you-need-know-you-stand-a-candidate/qualifications-and-disqualifications-standing-election/disqualifications)

Then it says (emphasis added):

>You are employed by the local authority or hold a paid office under the authority (including joint boards or committees).[1](https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance-candidates-and-agents-local-government-elections-england/what-you-need-know-you-stand-a-candidate/qualifications-and-disqualifications-standing-election/disqualifications#footnote1_tuciii) Note that you may be ‘employed by the local authority’ if, for example, **you work at certain schools**, fire services, police or health services. This list is not exhaustive and more information is set out in our guidance: [Working for the local authority](https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance-candidates-and-agents-local-government-elections-england/what-you-need-know-you-stand-a-candidate/qualifications-and-disqualifications-standing-election/disqualifications/working-local-authority).

This took me less than 5 minutes to find. Surely this is quite literally the first thing you do when you think “I wonder if I should run for the local council?”

It’s definitely not a “turns out he’s literally a nazi” level takedown. It *is* an embarrassment, but it’s an embarrassment on the level of like… you’re trying to park your car in a tight space and someone stops to watch.

Oh i thought it was gonna be something daft.

Didn’t realise being a teacher disqualifies you but then being a council worker also does.

Typical reactionary right wing media forcing a non story