Full Breakdown
Green Party Councillors Resign After Eligibility Breaches in Hackney and Camden
5/14/2026, 8:40:31 AM
Election Upset: Ineligible Green Party Winners Forced to Step Down
On 7 May 2026, Green Party candidates James Tilden (Hackney Central) and Muhammed Naser (Camden’s Regent’s Park ward) were elected to their borough councils. Both were later found ineligible under Section 80 of the Local Government Act 1972, which bars council employees from serving as councillors of the employing authority. Tilden, a primary-school teacher employed by Hackney Council, received 1,681 votes before resigning on 12 May. Naser, a Camden Council teacher, also announced his resignation, creating two vacant seats.
Legal Framework: Section 80 of the Local Government Act 1972
The Act prohibits local authority employees, including teachers, from standing for election to the same authority. A breach of this rule prevents the candidate from serving, even if elected.
Timeline of Key Developments
- 7 May 2026 – Local elections; Tilden and Naser elected.
- 12 May 2026 – Hackney Council announces Tilden’s resignation; a by-election will be called.
- Mid-May 2026 – Camden Council receives Naser’s resignation; the statutory timetable to commence.
- July 2026 (expected) – By-election for Camden’s Regent’s Park ward.
- Date TBD – Hackney Central by-election, potentially aligned with Dalston ward election.
Official Statements & Responses
The Green Party said it will overhaul candidate vetting. Hackney Council confirmed a by-election will be called, while Camden Council outlined the statutory process for initiating a by-election once a resignation is received.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Hackney Council has not set a specific date for its by-election, describing the timing as “in due course.” Vote totals for Naser’s election were not disclosed. Details on the Green Party’s revised vetting procedures remain unspecified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “aware of this eligibility issue when we submitted his nomination” — Hackney Green Party spokesperson
- “As soon as we found this out, we informed Hackney Electoral Services and he stopped campaigning,” — Hackney Green Party spokesperson
- “We are strengthening our vetting processes for future elections as a result of eligibility issues raised over two of our candidates.” — Green Party spokesperson
- “As a result, a by-election will be called in the Hackney Central ward. The details of the by-election will be announced in due course.” — Hackney Council spokesperson
- “Once a request to hold a by-election has been received the statutory timetable will begin.” — Camden Council spokesperson
Why It Matters
The resignations reveal a lapse in candidate screening that led to two vacant council seats and the need for by-elections. The Green Party’s pledge to tighten vetting directly addresses the eligibility issues that prompted the resignations.
What’s Next
Camden expects a July by-election for Regent’s Park, while Hackney plans its by-election pending a coordinated schedule with Dalston ward. The Green Party is reviewing internal processes to ensure compliance with the Local Government Act before future contests.
