The Role of A Local Councillor
What are Paper Candidates?
As well as fighting seats we could well win, we need more volunteers to simply put their name as a Green candidate.
In the United Kingdom, major parties often find it difficult to field a full list of candidates for all council seats up for election and ask people to stand as paper candidates so that:
- Supporters have an opportunity to vote for the party
- The total vote obtained across the council and the nation are maximised
- All seats are contested, so there is no risk that candidates from other parties can be declared elected unopposed
In Britain, being nominated as a local election candidate simply involves signing some forms, with no deposit required. A paper candidate will often do no campaigning at all and so be able to submit a zero return of election expenses, simplifying the paperwork for the election agent. Paper candidates are commonly fielded in different locations by all the major parties in both local and national elections.
Some paper candidates stand in order to help their party but do not wish to be elected to the post in question. In fact, some only agree to stand after receiving assurances that there is no “risk” of them getting elected.
TGP Councillor Agreement
On taking up your role as a local Green Councillor, you be expected to sign up the Councillor Agreement below.
Green Party Code of Conduct
The structure of the Green Party of England and Wales is set out in our Constitution, which is approved and regularly reviewed by Conference.
We ask all members to abide by the Party’s Code of Conduct, which is approved and regularly reviewed by Conference. Complaints about members alleged to have breached the Code are dealt with through our complaints process – you can find out more in the pages below.
Code of Conduct, 2019
The Tewkesbury Code of Conduct, October 2024 is below the HQ Policy.
Tewkesbury Green Party Code of Conduct, October 2024