Across Glasgow and other Scottish cities, we’ve been hearing repeated street‑level conversations among housing‑deprived people about a house-deprived group calling itself SHARP — Safeguarding Home And Rights Protection.

We cannot confirm whether SHARP intends to stand in the May 26 elections, but the rumour is spreading quickly among those with lived experience of homelessness. If true, it would mark the first time a group formed by housing‑deprived citizens themselves has explored entering Scotland’s democratic process.

To help anyone curious about what this would involve, we’ve prepared two short executive summaries based on Electoral Commission guidance.

Executive Summary 1: How to Register a Political Party in Scotland

Political parties in Scotland must register with the Electoral Commission before they can appear on ballot papers. Registration is not automatic — applications are assessed against legal criteria.

Minimum Requirements

  • Completed application form submitted to the Electoral Commission
  • Party constitution (must show the party is properly structured)
  • Financial scheme explaining how the party will manage money and comply with donation rules
  • Non‑refundable £150 fee

Key Notes

  • Parties must be set up to meet ongoing legal obligations under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000
  • Names, descriptions, and emblems must not be misleading or confusing
  • Parties can only be registered if they intend to put up candidates for elections
  • Applications for use on ballot papers must be submitted well before the deadline (for 2026, the Commission highlighted 30 January as a key cut‑off for processing)

This is only the starting point — any group considering registration would need to study the full guidance and ensure they can meet all legal and financial obligations.

Executive Summary 2: How an Individual Stands in a Scottish Local Council Election

Standing as a council candidate is more straightforward than registering a party. Individuals can stand as independents or as candidates for a registered party.

Basic Qualifications

According to Electoral Commission guidance for Scottish council elections:

  • Must be 18 or over
  • Must be a British citizen, a qualifying Commonwealth citizen, a citizen of Ireland, or a qualifying foreign national with the right to remain
  • Must meet one of the following:
    • Registered local government elector in the area
    • Occupy land or premises in the area as owner or tenant
    • Work in the area
    • Have lived in the area for the past 12 months

Disqualifications

Candidates cannot stand if they:

  • Hold a politically restricted post
  • Are disqualified under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 or other relevant legislation

Nomination Process

  • Complete a nomination form with full legal name
  • Provide a description (“Independent” or blank unless authorised by a registered party)
  • Submit the form by the statutory deadline

Again, this is only a summary — anyone considering standing must read the full Electoral Commission guidance.

What Should the Public Do If Curious?

If members of the public are curious about SHARP — or any emerging grassroots group — they have every right to ask for more information. That includes a copy of the group’s governing documents, its manifesto, its plan for the first 100 days in office, and its strategy timeline for the full term. Transparency is a cornerstone of democratic legitimacy, and any group seeking public trust should be ready to share its vision, values, and operational plan.

Why Share This Information?

If the rumours about SHARP — or any other grassroots group — are true, then the public has a role to play in understanding what it takes for housing‑deprived citizens to participate in Scotland’s democratic process.

The best way to support any emerging civic movement is simple:

  • Talk about it at the kitchen table
  • Discuss it at work
  • Raise it down the pub
  • Bring it up at family gatherings
  • Share it at church or community groups

Conversation is how ideas spread.
Conversation is how movements begin.
Conversation is how democracy grows.

In political and human‑rights language, “house‑deprived” is simply another way of saying “homeless”. According to the United Nations, homelessness is not limited to those sleeping rough in the elements — it includes anyone without secure, habitable housing, and anyone living in conditions that place them at risk of losing their home. In other words, homelessness includes the hidden, the precarious, the sofa‑surfing, the overcrowded, and all those one step away from the street. When we speak of house‑deprived people exploring democratic participation, we are speaking about a community far larger — and far more vulnerable — than most imagine.

Doors Academy SCIO remains strictly non‑partisan. We do not endorse or oppose any political group. We simply report what we hear from the people we serve — and provide information that helps the public understand the processes involved.