PETITIONOpenPetition · petition.parliament.uk
Prevent people convicted of serious crimes standing or serving as MPs
Ban anyone who has ever been convicted of serious offences (such as sex offences against children, terrorism, serious fraud, corruption, violent crimes) including foreign convictions and given a custodial or suspended sentence from standing for or serving as an MP; when appeals have been exhausted.
Last fetched 03 May 2026 · petition.parliament.uk
Signatures
409
signatures
Government response threshold (10,000) · 409/10,000
Debate threshold (100,000) · 409/100,000
Background
I believe any MPs convicted of serious crimes undermine public trust. Current law only vacates a current MP’s seat if given a custodial sentence longer than 12 months, and recall petition rules are limited. We believe the change suggested in this petition closes that gap, protects vulnerable people, and requires parties to vet candidates. It targets serious custodial offences only, balancing public safety with rehabilitation.