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Candidates
How to become a candidate in May’s council elections: an application form and a guide to the rules
The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) was set-up to enable working class fighters, trade unionists, community campaigners, anti-war or climate activists, and socialists from different parties or none, to stand in elections using a ballot paper description that gives a clearer indicator of their politics than just the bare label of ‘Independent’ – the only description that candidates are legally allowed to use unless they use a description supplied by a political party registered with the Electoral Commission, like TUSC is.
The only qualification for candidates who wish to use the TUSC name, or any other of the eight descriptions it has registered with the Electoral Commission – including the Independent Trade Union and Socialist Candidate description – is that they have to endorse the TUSC core policies platform for the relevant election.
These core policies are a list of minimum commitments that voters could expect from someone elected while using the TUSC banner – while leaving room for every candidate, whether from the various parts of our coalition or the independent individual campaigners and socialists standing, to keep control of their own election campaign. TUSC really is not a conventional ‘party’ but very much what it says on the tin – a coalition of those who want to fight back at the ballot box with a clear working class, socialist identity.
The platform for the May 2026 local elections – the ‘six guarantees’ – can be viewed at https://www.tusc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Local-elections-core-policies.pdf. If you agree with them, and want to stand under a socialist banner in May, read on.
Using one of the descriptions on the ballot paper
By law candidates who wish to appear on the ballot paper using a registered description have to submit to the council election staff, along with their nomination forms, a Certificate of Authorisation to use a Description, signed by the Nominating Officer of the party that holds the description with the Electoral Commission.
An application form for candidates to use a TUSC-registered description is available at https://www.tusc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/2026-Application-form-Cllr.docx (if you are having difficulty opening this link, try copying it into your browser). Submitting the form will be taken as indicating your agreement with the ‘six guarantees’.
A guide to election rules
We also produce summary guides to electoral law for prospective candidates and election agents. The Guide for the 2026 elections is available as a downloadable PDF at https://www.tusc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/2026-Guide-for-Candidates-Agents.pdf
This contains information on the official regulations governing elections, based on publications produced by the Electoral Commission, along with some tips and pointers drawn from the previous experience of TUSC election campaigners.
It also includes information on the procedures agreed by the TUSC steering committee on how to get to use one of the descriptions available from TUSC on your local ballot paper.
TUSC election candidates and results from 2011 to 2025
In every year May’s elections since 2011 that the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) has contested seats* it has always published the detailed results of every candidate that appeared on the ballot paper under its umbrella as a public record – something which we are not aware that any other party or coalition standing candidates does. Below are the links to the results reports produced for each year.
TUSC election report May 2025
See https://www.tusc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2025-results-report.pdf
TUSC election reports 2024
July 2024 general election Fact File
https://www.tusc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2024-GE-The-TUSC-Fact-File.pdf
May 2024 local elections
https://www.tusc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2024-Results-Report.pdf
TUSC election report May 2023
See https://www.tusc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Results-Report.pdf
TUSC election report May 2022
See https://www.tusc.org.uk/txt/472.pdf
TUSC election report May 2021
See https://www.tusc.org.uk/txt/446.pdf
TUSC local election report 2018
See http://www.tusc.org.uk/txt/424.pdf
TUSC local election report 2017
See http://www.tusc.org.uk/txt/400.pdf
TUSC election report May 2016
See http://www.tusc.org.uk/txt/380.pdf
TUSC election report May 2015
See http://www.tusc.org.uk/txt/338.pdf
TUSC election report May 2014
See http://www.tusc.org.uk/txt/307.pdf
TUSC election report 2013
See http://www.tusc.org.uk/pdfs/2013/2013TUSClocalelectionreport.pdf
TUSC election report May 2012
See http://www.tusc.org.uk/pdfs/2012/2012TUSClocalelectionreport.pdf
TUSC election report 2011
See http://www.tusc.org.uk/pdfs/2011/2011TUSClocalelectionresults.pdf
* TUSC recalibrated our electoral activity following Jeremy Corbyn’s election as Labour leader, a development which we warmly welcomed. Consequently we did not contest either the 2017 or 2019 general elections and stood on a more limited basis in other elections, only against those Labour candidates who opposed Jeremy Corbyn and were carrying out austerity policies. But with Keir Starmer’s election as leader TUSC agreed to resume standing more widely again, starting in the May 2021 elections.
Policies
TUSC will oppose all cuts to council jobs, services, pay and conditions. Reject increases in council tax, rent and service charges to compensate for government cuts. Vote against the privatisation of council jobs and services.
Support TUSC or find out more
TUSC has had hundreds of declarations of support. You can support TUSC as an individual trade unionist or socialist, or apply for your organisation to join TUSC.