You Voice, Your Council, Stand for our Profession
Nominations for the elections to BMA UK council for the 2026 – 2029 sessions are open and will close at 4pm on Monday 16 February 2026.
Members are at the heart of the BMA. If you want to be a voice for your peers, get involved in shaping the direction of the BMA, organising and campaigning to support your colleagues then stand for election. Make a difference and shape the future of our profession.
Election timeline
Nominations open: 12 January 2026
Nominations close: 16 February 2026
Ballot opens: 9 March 2026
Ballot closes: 27 April 2026
Why stand?
BMA UK council is the principal executive committee of the trade union. It sets the strategic direction of the association in line with policy decided by the representative body. Council is responsible for the formulation and implementation of policy throughout the year between annual representative meetings.
As a voting member of UK council, you will play an active role in representing your peers and the collective voice of colleagues from across the profession ensuring they are heard, nationally, locally and in the workplace. You will be involved in influencing BMA policy and priorities for the next three years from 2026-29.
Current key priorities for 2025/26 include:
- pay/Funding Restoration and Contracts
- doctor Unemployment and Under-employment
- NHS 10 Year Plan
- doctor Substitution/Role Replacement
- GMC Reform
Co-ordination and action on these priorities is overseen by Council in addition to new and emerging issues. As well as meeting six times a year, council members come together twice a year for development days to develop strategies and plans around priorities. Members are also expected to join working groups to take forward key priorities and can join governance committees, creating additional opportunities to influence, develop interests and shape the work of the BMA.
As a council member you will also have access to a range of learning and development opportunities to support you in your role focusing on leadership and active bystander training, as well as training for committee chairs and deputy chairs. There is also a package of online EDI training modules on topics such as inclusive leadership, understanding unconscious bias, and effective influencing at the BMA.
Find out more about BMA UK council and read the BMA’s strategy which was shaped and approved by council.
Who can stand?
To stand in this election, you must be a BMA member in one of the constituencies and branches of practice listed below.
The BMA is committed to ensuring our committees are diverse and representative. We encourage nominations from members who are underrepresented in our elected structures, including women, members from an ethnic minority background, LGBTQ+ members, and members who are disabled, neurodivergent or have a long-term condition.
UK council composition and eligibility criteria
There are 69 UK council voting members. Each is directly elected by the membership to give a geographical and branch of practice mix as well as five seats for ethnic minority members.
Voting members are elected according to the following categories:
- geographical constituency
- branch of practice
- ethnic minority.
A gender maxima constraint has been applied to larger constituencies so that not all members elected are of the same gender.
All members are bound by the BMA principles and code of conduct.
Read below how seats are distributed across these categories.
Your geographical zone is your region/nation. It is determined by the division you are listed under at the time nominations open.
English regions:
- Eastern
- East Midlands
- North East
- North West
- South Central
- South East coast
- South West
- West Midlands
- Yorkshire
Each region has 3 seats, of which no more than 2 are of the same gender.
- London - 4 seats, of which no more than 3 of the same gender.
Nations:
- Scotland
- Wales
- Northern Ireland
Each nation has 3 seats, of which no more than 2 are of the same gender.
This is determined by the category of medical work in which, at the time the nominations open, you spend the majority of your remunerated medical time (except for medical students and retired members).
- Academics - 1 seat
- Armed forces - 1 seat
- Consultants - 4 seats, of which no more than 3 are of the same gender
- General practice - 4 seats, of which no more than 3 are of the same gender
- Resident doctors - 5 seats, of which no more than 3 are of the same gender
- Medical students - 3 seats, of which no more than 2 are of the same gender. no more than 2 shall be elected from the same gender. The voting members elected in medical student branch of practice seats shall hold office for two years from the conclusion of the annual representative meeting in the year of their election until the conclusion of the annual representative meeting of the second year of their term of
office. - Occupational medicine - 1 seat
- Public health medicine - 1 seat
- Retired doctors - 1 seat
- SAS doctors - 2 seats
- Other - 1 seat
Ethnic minority – 5 seats
To stand in this election, you must be a BMA member and self-identify as Black, Asian and minority ethnic - no more than 3 seats to the same gender.
How to nominate yourself
Before completing your form, read:
- the full candidates guide
- the UK council member role profile
Nomination deadline
The deadline for submitting your nomination is 4pm on Monday 16 February 2026. Late nominations will not be accepted.
Invalid forms
Nomination forms that are not properly completed and submitted will be considered invalid. It is your responsibility to make sure your form is correct and complete. Amendments to forms will not be permitted after the close of nominations. Nominations must be made via the above website only. Copies received via any other method will not be accepted.
Voting
BMA council is the Association’s principal executive committee which means we are required by law to conduct this election by postal vote. Civica Election Services is the independent scrutineer and will be administering this election.
Voting opens 9 March 2026 and closes 27 April 2026.
Results
Results will be published on the website during the week commencing 27 April 2026.
Successful candidates
The newly elected members will serve a three-year term for the sessions 2026-27, 2027-28, 2028-29.
Get in touch
If you have any questions about UK council or the elections, please email [email protected]