Legally require all councillors & mayors to speak proficient English

Petitions/Legally require all councillors & mayors to speak proficient English

StatusOngoing

Opened27 Feb 2026

Closes—

Government responseResponded

Parliamentary debateNot eligible

Milestones✓ 10,000

There’s no legal requirement for councillors/mayors to be proficient in English. This can lead to communication barriers in meetings and with constituents. This petition calls for mandatory English fluency for these roles.

In recent years, viral media clips have raised concerns about English proficiency among some ceremonial mayors and councillors. Discussions question if limited fluency impairs public communication. These cases support calls for mandatory English proficiency and English-only official meetings for clarity and accessibility.

11,630Total signatures

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10,000

100,000

Government response

Government expects local authority public meetings not to be conducted in foreign languages. Local authorities are already empowered to offer training for their members where they feel it necessary.