NALC champions local democracy as elections bill reaches Lords

We are stepping up efforts to champion the democratic role of parish and town councils as the Representation of the People Bill enters its next parliamentary stage.

Ahead of Lords Committee Stage, which begins on 2 November 2026, we have briefed peer supporters and members of the House of Lords with local government backgrounds, urging them to highlight the vital contribution parish and town councils make to local democracy.

We have called for measures to encourage more young people to stand for election and for local elections to be used as a testing ground for modern, technology-enabled democratic participation. We are also pressing for parish and town councils to have the option to hold meetings remotely, if they wish, and for the reintroduction of a statutory duty on national and local government to promote democratic participation actively.

Other priorities include dedicated funding to help parish and town councils promote elections, alongside principal authorities, extending the parish basic allowance to co-opted councillors, and extending the dependants' carers' allowance to parish and town councillors to help remove barriers to participation.

Within the bill's scope, we will also work with supportive peers to table amendments on the conduct of elections, hostility towards candidates and the abolition of parish polls.

We will continue to champion these priorities in parliament and keep the sector updated on progress.