Last Updated on 03/03/2026
In the City of London unlike anywhere else, Aldermen are still elected for each of the City’s wards by the regular electorate. Until 2004, Aldermen could hold office for life, but they now serve terms of no more than six years. Together, they form the Court of Aldermen.
To be eligible to stand for election as Lord Mayor of the City of London, a candidate must be an Alderman and must previously have served as a Sheriff of the City of London.
Candidates standing for Alderman must appeal both to the residents of the ward they seek to represent and to the businesses based there, which are entitled to votes based on the number of employees they register.
Candidates no longer need to be qualified Justices of the Peace (JPs); however, they must still meet a number of other eligibility requirements, as detailed in the Alderman and Guidance on Progression to the Offices of Sheriff and Lord Mayor document.
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