Applications for Bray By-election Need to be in by 4pm Thursday 27th August 2026
Personally I’d love to see some independently minded young person becoming the local councillor for Bray Ward and add their energy to the council mix.
It can be tough out there right now for young people, who may have a top degree but are struggling to find that perfect role. Well £9,816 a year for turning up to a few evening meetings a month and saying what you really think is a pretty good part-time job.
You need to aim to get 1,000 votes which will require you to knock 100-200 doors, and speak to 20-30 residents a day who could potentially vote for you. Take an A5 flyer that you can post through the doors. If Canva isn’t your thing, one of your pals will be able to pull it together for you. As an Independent you stand under your name and you don’t need a list of policies, leave that to the party machines… just tell folk who you are and how you’ll work hard, listen to all the arguments and fight your corner for residents on a given topic.
Put up a good fight, win the seat or simply generate a few hundred votes and it’ll give something to talk about at that perfect job interview 😉
If a young person isn’t up for it, perhaps an old hairdresser might be… Luca and I ran together in 2015… could be his time…
The nomination period for candidates to complete the Nomination paperwork and put themselves forward commences on Wednesday 19 August 2026 and the deadline is 4pm Thursday 27 August 2026.
Contact elections@rbwm.gov.uk and they’ll steer you through the process.
Before you can be accepted as a candidate you must get two supporters to propose your nomination and you must sign a declaration and consent to Nomination. Both supporters must be on the electoral register for the area you are standing in.
To be able to stand as a candidate you must:
- be at least 18 years old.
- be a British citizen, an eligible Commonwealth citizen, a citizen of the Republic of Ireland, a qualifying EU citizen or an EU citizen with retained rights.
and meet at least one of the following four qualifications:
- You are, and will continue to be, registered as a local government elector for the local authority area in which you wish to stand from the day of your nomination onwards.
- You have occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the local authority area during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election.
- Your main or only place of work during the 12 months prior to the day of your nomination and the day of election has been in the local authority area.
- You have lived in the local authority area during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election.
You may be disqualified as a candidate if you work for the council or hold a politically restricted post with another local authority. Bankruptcy or a previous criminal conviction with a three-month or more prison sentence would also disqualify you as a candidate.
You can find out more here…
Or just contact elections@rbwm.gov.uk and they’ll steer you through the process.
Good luck.
Jon
Top image was from the climate summit, has that hustings vibe… with 2 current Cllrs, 1 ex Cllr who does a ton of good work in the community and Michael from the Green Party who could be one of those young candidates 😉
