Find information on the role and responsibilities of an Election Agent here.
Time: even in seats with little campaigning, agents are still needed. This may be as little as an hour or two a week for the duration of the camaign and afterwards. But where we are fighting an intensive campaign, much more time is required.
A key role in every campaign, Agents are legally responsible for the actions and published claims of their candidates. They must approve all campaign communications. They must authorise and pay all election bills. And they must ensure that candidates and campaigners are aware of the law and comply with it.
Some agents are also the campaign manager and so need to understand how to lead effective campaigns. In other places, a different person is the campaign manager and the agent's role is narrowed to ensuring that all necessary legal steps are followed.
Being an Agent is an important and rewarding role which places you at the heart of our active democracy, but it must be taken seriously. While the party actively encourages volunteers to come forwards to be agents, we recommend that you only do so if you have a reasonable experience of campaigns, have an organised approach and are able to manage a campaign and keep it within the law.
When you are learning what it takes to be an agent, starting off with a lower-profile and lower-pressure contest often makes sense. This could be a local council by-election, or a non-target seat at a general election.
You should register your interest with the Executive Committee.
As the Agent is a particularly important role, with legal and financial implications, you should try to come to either the Autumn or Spring party conference, and attend the agents training.
Darren Briddock, LDHQ
Candy Piercy, Aylesbury