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.