X Factor search launched to find the councillors of the future 

An X Factor-style search for the capital's future councillors is launching this week as part of a city-wide drive to increase the talent and diversity of the people chosen to represent Londoners' needs. 

A practical guide to recruiting candidates to stand for election in London's 2010 borough elections will be released this Friday as part of a London campaign to raise the public's awareness of councils' work and attract fresh talent to local democracy. 

The 'Project 2010' campaign will engage with people from all walks of life and promote the idea of standing as a councillor to people who may not normally consider the idea. It will be particularly relevant to people from minority ethnic backgrounds, young mothers and people in their 20s and 30s who might have historically discounted the role for themselves. The project will involve polling Londoners to gauge their current level of understanding and involvement in local government; creating a new bespoke website informing people about how to become a London councillor; and a high-profile summit on becoming a councillor on12 July 2008. The project will run until the next borough elections in 2010.