Setting a clear direction
Create a visible strategy and explain how major budgets and powers will be used.
Start HereWhy Stand With UsSee how ordinary people can create practical change.
ParliamentStand as an MPRepresent a parliamentary constituency.
Local CouncilStand as a CouncillorRepresent your ward and local community.
Elected LeadershipStand as a MayorLead a council, city or region.
Local OrganisationJoin a PanelHelp select and support local candidates.
Practical SupportJoin a TeamHelp in ways that suit your time and skills.
MembershipBecome a MemberSupport us, receive updates and vote.
Financial SupportDonateGive once or monthly with clear transparency.
Lead a council, city or region
Stand as a Mayor
Provide visible, accountable leadership across a whole mayoral area and bring people together around major practical priorities.
Why stand as a mayor?
Give an area visible, accountable leadership.
A directly elected mayor can bring together transport, housing, skills, economic development, public safety and other major priorities, depending on the powers of the authority.
The role needs more than a recognisable name. It requires strategic judgement, credible leadership, a strong local or regional connection and the ability to work with councils, government, services and communities.
How you can create change
As an elected mayor, you can help by...
Improving transport
Where powers exist, shape buses, rail, roads, active travel and integrated transport.
Supporting homes and regeneration
Bring councils, landowners, funders and communities together around housing and place-making.
Growing skills and employment
Align training, employers and investment with the needs of the area.
Coordinating public bodies
Use the office to connect councils, policing, health, business and voluntary organisations.
Being directly accountable
Publish decisions, face scrutiny and answer directly to voters across the whole mayoral area.
Types of elected mayor
The powers and area vary.
The public candidate route currently relates to directly elected mayoral offices in England. Local People will only open an application where a real elected office exists or is scheduled.
A London-wide executive role with distinct statutory responsibilities and Greater London Authority election rules.
A regional role covering several council areas. Powers depend on legislation and the area's devolution settlement.
Leads a specific council and is responsible for executive decision-making under that authority's arrangements.
Civic mayors, lord mayors, provosts and council chairs selected by councillors rather than directly by voters.
The role, defined simply
Lead an authority and answer directly to voters.
An elected mayor provides political and strategic leadership for the defined area. The exact powers may cover local services, transport, planning, housing, skills, economic development, policing or fire, depending on the legal settlement.
The mayor does not act alone. Decisions can involve a cabinet, constituent councils, scrutiny arrangements, officers and formal budget rules.
“Some councils have an elected mayor. They’re responsible for the day-to-day running of local services.”
Official source: GOV.UK, Understand how your council works
Why work with Local People?
A mayoral campaign needs a serious regional structure.
We will not treat mayoral selection as a larger version of a ward campaign. It needs deeper checks, a credible leadership record, broad local support and detailed policy preparation.
Mayoral area profile
Powers, councils, population, current priorities, budgets and the official election timetable.
Regional panel process
Structured assessment involving people from across the mayoral area, with conflicts declared.
Policy and evidence
Tools to develop costed, realistic priorities based on the actual powers of the office.
Large-area organisation
Support for events, volunteers, members, communications and local teams across several council areas.
Funding and compliance
Campaign targets, transparent fundraising and prompts for mayoral election rules.
Public scrutiny preparation
Profile, interviews, debates, declarations, accessibility and clear answers on experience and priorities.
Mission and commitment
A high-pressure executive public role.
Most directly elected mayoral roles should be treated as full-time. They involve major budgets, public scrutiny, media attention and decisions affecting large populations.
Strategic leadership across a large areaRegular public and stakeholder engagementBudget and investment decisionsWorking with councils and governmentFormal scrutiny and transparencyFrequent media and public appearancesTravel across the mayoral areaSubstantial impact on personal and family life
Pay and benefits if elected
There is no single mayoral salary.
The authority or statutory framework sets remuneration. Local People does not set it, and office or staff budgets are not personal earnings.
Published salary for the Mayor of London at the date of review.
Combined authority and local authority mayors have separately determined salaries or allowances.
Staff, office, travel and authority budgets exist to perform the public role, not as personal benefits.
“The Mayor’s salary is £170,282.”
Official source: London City Hall, Salaries, expenses and benefits
Exact role first, exact figure second.
Before selection opens, the website must identify the actual mayoral authority, its powers, salary or allowance, pension arrangements, expenses and current official source.
Before you apply
A higher evidence threshold.
Interest is welcome, but Local People should only support a mayoral candidate who can credibly lead a large public authority and campaign across the whole area.
Legal eligibility for the specific mayoral electionStrong and credible connection to the mayoral areaDemonstrable leadership and sound judgementUnderstanding of the office’s real powers and limitsAbility to build support across several communities and councilsDetailed declarations, checks and referencesCapacity for a large public campaign and intense scrutinyAgreement to transparency, conduct and financial standards
Interested in leading your area?
Register interest in a directly elected mayoral role.
We will first confirm that the office is directly elected and identify the correct authority and election rules.
Evidence and review
Sources and Last Updated
Mayoral powers and remuneration are specific to each authority. The exact official scheme must be checked before opening candidate selection.
Page last reviewed1 August 2026
- GOV.UK: Understand how your council works: decision making and mayorsChecked 1 August 2026
- Electoral Commission: Local authority mayoral candidate guidanceChecked 1 August 2026
- Electoral Commission: Combined authority mayoral candidate guidanceChecked 1 August 2026
- Electoral Commission: Greater London Authority candidate guidanceChecked 1 August 2026
- London City Hall: Salaries, expenses and benefitsChecked 1 August 2026