Tristan Robinson has not been living in the borough

The Gazette made an appointment to view the nomination papers for Cllr Tristan Robinson, after neighbours told us he had moved out of his parents’ home in Sherfield-on-Loddon “several years ago” to live with his girlfriend in London.

The Electoral Commission states that candidates standing at local election must meet one of four qualifying criteria, which includes living in the local authority area during the whole of the 12 months before the election.

The other criteria are being registered as a local government elector; occupying land or other premises in the local authority area for 12 months before the elections; and working in the local authority area for 12 months before he elections.

Cllr Robinson stated on his nomination form that he is “registered as a local government elector for the area of the borough named above” as his qualifying criteria. 

He had crossed out the option for living in the borough for the whole of the past 12 months. 

The area of the borough named above on the form was Sherborne St John and Rooksdown, where 29-year-old Cllr Robinson is standing for election for the Conservative party.

However, Cllr Robinson’s home address is registered at his parents’ house in Sherfield-on-Loddon, meaning he is not registerd to vote in Sherborne St John. 

The two remaining qualifying criteria were also crossed out.

Cllr Robinson said: "I have stayed with my girlfriend during lockdown, but am living in Sherfield in Loddon.

“My qualifying criteria for election is that I am on the Electoral Roll in Basingstoke and Deane Borough area, the place I've been proud to call home since the day I was born.”

The council said: “To stand, a candidate qualifying under the first criteria has to be on the electoral register for the borough (ie the local authority area), not the ward in which they are standing.”

It added that the words ‘the area of the borough’ refers to the whole borough not the ward.