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Open Ban anyone convicted of serious criminal offences from standing in elections

Created by Graham Keast
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People with serious criminal convictions are allowed to stand for election for councillor after five years and once they leave prison, for MP. This includes terrorism, violence, sexual offences and fraud. We believe public office is a privilege, not a right, and should meet higher moral standards.

Many public roles — including police, teachers and security-cleared civil servants — permanently exclude people with serious criminal convictions. We feel elected politicians currently face a lower standard. This petition calls for permanent disqualification from elected office for anyone imprisoned for terrorism, violence, sexual offences, violence against women and girls, or serious fraud, whether in the UK or abroad.

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  • Petition published

    This petition can now be signed.

    If this petition gets 10,000 signatures, government will respond to it.

    If this petition gets 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

    This petition will stay open until 12 September 2026.