Selection of candidates for 2026 elections to Lambeth Council

The next elections to Lambeth Council will take place in May 2026. At the last local elections (2022) we successfully elected three Liberal Democrats onto the Council, who formed and now serve as the Official Opposition Group on Lambeth Council.

With Labour in power in Westminster, City Hall and Lambeth Council - and following a fantastic General Election for the Liberal Democrats, which elected 72 MPs including three new Lib Dem MPs in South London - we have the opportunity to elect many more Liberal Democrats to Lambeth Council.

Our Lib Dem councillors speak up for local people and challenge the Labour administration, who currently control 58 out of the 63 councillors.

If you are interested in becoming a Lib Dem candidate for the 2026 elections, you need to act now. 

Please find our complete candidate pack below and/or read on for more information on the process. 

THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION IS 20th June 2025 AND CANDIDATES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. 

Process outline 

Approval

The approval process determines whether someone is suitable to be a Lib Dem candidate in Lambeth in one of our target wards. The approval process consists of filling in the application form and consent to background checks; as well as a half hour interview with an approval panel.

Anyone wanting to be a candidate in a target ward for 2026 must undertake the approval process: this includes sitting Liberal Democrat Councillors.

We will be convening approval panels in late June 2025

Note that any candidates who are approved are also eligible to be candidates in any local council by-elections prior to May 2026. This approval process does not constitute approval for council elections outside Lambeth, nor approval to submit nominations for parliamentary selections.

Assignment to Wards

At this time we will be inviting approved candidates who have not been selected to stand in particular wards to express interest in one or more wards in which a candidate slate is not yet full following the earlier ward selection process.

The Executive Committee will match candidates to seats on this basis, after which candidates will be informed of the ward in which they are invited to stand. The Executive Committee may not overturn any previous decisions made by members in ward selections. 

Candidates may decline to take up their candidacy and, in the event of any open seats remaining, the Executive Committee will determine a process by which to fill them.

Thank you for your interest in representing the Liberal Democrats in our community.