Invitation to apply to be a Lib Dem Swindon Borough Council candidate - May 2026

Swindon Liberal Democrats are selecting the candidates to contest the Swindon Borough Council elections in 2026. Candidates are sought for the Wards listed below.

This is a formal notice that applications for Swindon Borough Council wards listed at the bottom of the notice are now invited.

If you wish to be considered for selection as the Liberal Democrat candidate in any of these wards, please email the Swindon Lib Dem Returning Officer, Ciaran Skinner at hello@swindonld.uk

Your application must arrive on or before Friday 28th November 2025 and should include

The three filled in forms:

• Application Form
• Signed Memorandum of Understanding
• Diversity Survey

And the names of the wards you are seeking to apply for - Both Borough and Parish wards are being selected. 

You can apply for as many wards as you would like.

For any contested selection, a selection (hustings) meeting will be held approximately 21 days after the close of applications.

At the hustings you will have the chance to make a speech of up to 5 minutes, after which members will have the opportunity to ask questions. The local members will then elect their preferred candidate. 

You will be invited to provide a single-sided A4 statement or manifesto, which will be sent to members of your local party by email.

You will also be offered the opportunity to contact members before the selection meeting.

If the correct number of candidate(s) applies for a ward, then the candidate(s) will be declared elected for that ward once they have completed the Approval process.

Liberal Democrat candidates for Swindon Borough Council must be approved by interview by a panel of three local Liberal Democrats.

If you wish to apply for selection and are not yet approved, then you will be asked to fill in an approval application form. Arrangements will be made for you to be interviewed before the selection meeting.

You can find candidate approval forms, and a copy of this notice by clicking here

We want everyone to be able to put their best foot forward. If you need advice before submitting your application, please just indicate on your email and provide a telephone number that we can contact you on.

If you need any assistance by reason of disability, please do let the Returning Officer, Ciaran Skinner, know by email - hello@swindonld.uk

Swindon North and Swindon South Constituencies

Swindon Borough Council Wards

Swindon North

• Blunsdon (1)

• Gorse Hill (1)

• Haydon Wick (3)

• Highworth (2)

• Lower Stratton (3)

• Penhill & Pinehurst (2)

• Priory Vale (3)

• Rodbourne Cheney (2)

• Rodbourne Ferndale & Western (3)

• South Marston (1) 

• St Andrews East (2)

• St Andrews West & Tadpole (2)

• Upper Stratton (2)

Swindon South

• Badbury Park, Eldene & Liden (3)

• Broadgreen (2)

• Covingham & Nythe (2)

• Kingshill (2)

• Lydiard, Freshbrook & Toothill (3)

• Old Town & Lawn (3)*

• Parks (2)

• Queen’s Park (3)

• Shaw & Westlea (3)*

• Walcot (2)

* = Target Seat

Parish Councils
 

Blunsdon Parish

• Blundson (10)

• Kingsdown (1)

Castle Eaton Parish

• Castle Eaton (5)

Central Swindon North Parish

• Even Swindon (3)

• Gorse Hill (2)

• Penhill (2)

• Pinehurst (2)

• Rodbourne Cheney (4)

• Rodbourne Ferndale (3)

Covingham Parish

• Covingham (15)

Hannington Parish 

• Hannington (5)

Haydon Wick Parish

• Haydon Wick (9)

• Priory Vale (9)

Highworth Town Council

• Highworth (15)

Nythe, Eldene and Liden Parish

• Eldene (3)

• Liden (3)

• Nythe (3)

South Marston Parish

• South Marston (9)

South Swindon Parish

• Badbury Park (1)

• Broadgreen (3) 

• Kingshill (3)

• Old Town and Lawn (5)

• Parks (4)

• Queens Park (4)

• Walcot (3)

St Andrews Parish

• St Andrews East (5) 

• St Andrews West and Tadpole (6)

Stanton Fitzwarren Parish

• Stanton Fitzwarren (5)

Stratton St Margaret Parish 

• Coleview (3)

• Lower Coleview (2)

• Lower Stratton (7)

• Upper Stratton (7)

West Swindon Parish

• Eastleaze and Shaw (1)

• Freshbrook (2)

• Grange Park (3)

• Middleleaze and Ramleaze (2)

• Peatmoor and Sparcells (2)

• Toothill (3)

• Westlea (2)