Independent Candidate

By /

A candidate standing for election without a registered political party label.

Category: Parliament and elections

Also used as: independent candidates, independent parliamentary candidate, independents

Source / explainer: Read Electoral Commission guidance

Last reviewed: 3 August 2026

An independent candidate is a person standing for election without representing a registered political party on the ballot paper. Independent candidates may campaign on local issues, personal platforms or wider political causes, but they do not appear under a party name in the same way as party candidates.

Related terms

Ballot PaperThe paper on which a voter marks their choice in an election.CandidateA person standing for election to public office.DepositA sum of money a parliamentary candidate must pay when standing for election.
Scroll to Top