The 2007 Survey of Local Election Candidates

The Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA), together with Professor Colin Rallings and Professor Michael Thrasher from the University of Plymouth, have surveyed the types of people standing as councillors in the last local election. It describes their:

• sex
• age
• ethnic background
• educational qualifications
• type of employment
• occupational status.

The survey examines why people made the decision to stand for local election and the level of support or opposition encountered from others, including family, friends and employers. It identifies the level of political experience and the recruitment of candidates. It also evaluates each candidate’s experience of the campaign process.
 
Judi Billing, Head of the National Leadership Programme at the IDeA comments:

“The research shows that, rather than not being elected, women, younger people, and ethnic groups are not putting themselves forward for election. This has serious implications for the work that local and national government must do to promote the work of local councils, and inform people about the important role that councillors play.”

“In response, we will work with the LGA and the political parties to look at ways of attracting more candidates from these groups. Clearly it is not about positive discrimination, we instead need to create programmes and services designed to encourage wider participation in local government and preserve a healthy democracy.” 

The 2007 Survey of Local Election Candidates (PDF, 16 pages, 1016KB).

Summary of the 2007 Survey of Local Election Candidates (PDF, 5 pages, 337KB)

Page published November 2007.