Legally require all councillors & mayors to speak proficient English
There’s no legal requirement for councillors/mayors to be proficient in English. This can lead to communication barriers in meetings and with constituents. This petition calls for mandatory English fluency for these roles.
Signatures
10,854
signatures
Government response threshold (10,000) · 10,000/10,000 · reached
Debate threshold (100,000) · 10,854/100,000
- 20 APR 2026Government respondedMinistry of Housing, Communities & Local GovernmentGovernment reply
Government expects local authority public meetings not to be conducted in foreign languages. Local authorities are already empowered to offer training for their members where they feel it necessary.
Read full response - 29 MAR 202610,000 signatures reachedEligible for a government response
- 27 FEB 2026Petition opened for signaturesCreated by Jake Harris
Background
In recent years, viral media clips have raised concerns about English proficiency among some ceremonial mayors and councillors. Discussions question if limited fluency impairs public communication. These cases support calls for mandatory English proficiency and English-only official meetings for clarity and accessibility.