Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government written question – answered at on 22 June 2026.
David Simmonds
Opposition Whip (Commons), Shadow Minister (Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what (a) guidance and (b) advice his Department has given to local authorities on whether employees of (i) district and (ii) county councils can serve as a councillor of a Shadow unitary authority for that area.
Alison McGovern
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The position is set out in the relevant standard disqualification provisions that are contained in existing legislation, including the Local Government Act 1972.
The Electoral Commission provides guidance on disqualifications and working for a council, available here.
In summary, an employee will be disqualified from being a member of the new unitary council from the reorganisation date, being the date when the Shadow council becomes the new unitary council for that area. As such, the employee would either have to leave office on the reorganisation date, or to continue serving as a member of the new unitary council, they will need to ensure they have resigned and served any notice period before the reorganisation date.
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Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
The shadow cabinet is the name given to the group of senior members from the chief opposition party who would form the cabinet if they were to come to power after a General Election. Each member of the shadow cabinet is allocated responsibility for `shadowing' the work of one of the members of the real cabinet.
The Party Leader assigns specific portfolios according to the ability, seniority and popularity of the shadow cabinet's members.
