Candidates standing in the United Kingdom general election, 2017

3,303 candidates stood in the United Kingdom general election of 2017, which was held on 8 June 2017.

The deadline for parties and individuals to file candidate nomination papers to the acting returning officer (and the deadline for candidates to withdraw) was 16:00 on 11 May 2017.^[1]

The total number of candidates was 3,303; this is fewer than the 3,971 candidates who stood in the 2015 UK general election or the record 4,133 who stood in the 2010 UK general election.^[2]

Gender

965 female candidates are standing, 29% of the total number of candidates. This is a record in percentage terms, up from 26% in 2015, but a decrease in total numbers.^[2] In Northern Ireland, 33% of candidates are female,^[3] while in Wales the figure is 31%.^[4]

Of the larger parties, the Labour Party has the largest proportion of female candidates, at 41%. 33% of Scottish National Party candidates are women, compared with 30% of Liberal Democrats and 29% of Conservative Party candidates.^[5]

Political parties

The Conservative Party are putting forward the most candidates, standing in 638 of the UK's 650 seats. The Labour Party are contesting 631, the Liberal Democrats 629, the various Green parties^{[n 1]} a total of 467, and the UK Independence Party 378.^[2] The total number of candidates by party is shown below:

†The Labour total includes 50 Labour Co-operative candidates.

England

As is traditional, the Conservative Party, Labour Party and Liberal Democrats are not standing in the constituency of the Speaker of the House of Commons, Buckingham, although both the Green Party of England and Wales and the UK Independence Party are contesting the seat.^[7] Otherwise, the Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats are standing in all constituencies, except the Liberal Democrats are standing aside in Brighton Pavilion and Skipton and Ripon with local parties having decided to support the Green candidates there instead.^[8]

UKIP and the Green Party of England and Wales are standing in many constituencies across England, but both have put up candidates in fewer seats than in 2015. In some cases, local parties have opted to support other candidates: UKIP local parties have stood aside to support Conservatives, while Green local parties have stood aside in around 30 seats^[9] to support candidates from Labour, the Liberal Democrats, or, in one case, the National Health Action Party.

Among parties standing solely in England, the Christian Peoples Alliance are standing 30 candidates,^[10] the Yorkshire Party are putting up 21 candidates,^[11] and the British National Party are standing ten.^[12] The Workers' Revolutionary Party are contesting five seats,^[13] as are the National Health Action Party.^[14] The Animal Welfare Party, Liberal Party and Libertarian Party each have four candidates.^[15][16][17] The English Democrats,^[18] the Alliance for Green Socialism, Communist League, Socialist Labour Party, Socialist Party of Great Britain, Justice and Anti-Corruption Party, Friend's Party and Young People's Party UK are standing in three seats each.^{[19][20][21][22][23][24][25]} The Peace Party have two candidates,^[26] and various parties are standing a single candidate.^[27]

Other parties standing candidates in England include the Official Monster Raving Loony Party with eleven,^[28] the Pirate Party UK with nine,^[29] the Women's Equality Party with five,^[30] and the Social Democratic Party with five, all in Sheffield.^[31] Something New is standing a single candidate in England.^[32] There are also various independent candidates.

Scotland

In Scotland, 266 candidates are standing, down from 346 in 2015, and fewer than in many years. The Scottish National Party, Conservative Party, Labour Party and Liberal Democrats are contesting all 59 seats, while only 30 other candidates are running, concentrated in 23 constituencies.^[33]

The UK Independence Party are standing in ten seats, the Scottish Green Party in three, and the Scottish Christian Party in two, while there is one candidate from each of the Social Democratic Party, Women's Equality Party, Something New, Scotland's Independence Referendum Party and Independent Sovereign Democratic Britain. There are also ten independent candidates. For the first time in many years, the Scottish Socialist Party are not contesting the election.^[33]

Wales

In Wales, 213 candidates are standing, a reduction from the 275 who stood in 2015. The Labour Party, Conservative Party, Plaid Cymru and Liberal Democrats are standing in all 40 seats, while the UK Independence Party are standing in 32, and the Wales Green Party in ten. Unusually, all forty members of the previous Parliament from Wales are standing again.^[4]

Among minor parties, the Official Monster Raving Loony Party,^[28] New Society of Worth,^[34] Pirate Party UK,^[29] and Women's Equality Party are each standing one candidate in Wales,^[30] and there are a number of independent candidates.

Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland, a total of 109 candidates are standing, down from 138 in 2015. Sinn Féin, the Social Democratic and Labour Party and the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland are standing in all eighteen seats. The Democratic Unionist Party are standing in 17, the Ulster Unionist Party in 15, and the Green Party in Northern Ireland and Conservatives in Northern Ireland both standing in seven.^[3]

In addition, the People Before Profit Alliance and Workers' Party are running in two seats each, Traditional Unionist Voice and Citizens Independent Social Thought Alliance in one each, and there are four independent candidates. The UK Independence Party, despite standing in ten seats in 2015, are not contesting any seats at this election.^[3]

Notes

References