A parliamentary debate is set to take place on January 6th regarding an online petition calling for a re-run of July’s general election, which has gathered over 2.8 million signatures. The petition has become the third most popular e-petition since 2010, easily surpassing the 100,000 signatures required for a parliamentary discussion.
The petition was initiated by a West Midlands publican who voted Conservative in the July election, alleging that Labour has failed to fulfill its pre-election promises. It has gained additional visibility through promotion by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and tech billionaire Elon Musk.
During Prime Minister’s Questions, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch used the petition to challenge Sir Keir Starmer, claiming that “two million people” are asking him to step down. She criticized Labour’s recent Budget, particularly the rise in employers’ National Insurance, which she argued could lead to job cuts.
Starmer dismissed the petition, asserting that the July election itself was a “massive petition” where Labour won 411 Commons seats and 9.7 million votes. He accused the Conservatives of having “nothing to offer except complaints.”
The Petitions Committee has confirmed the debate will proceed, with Liberal Democrat MP Jamie Stone opening the discussion and a government minister responding. While no vote will occur, the government must provide a written response due to the petition exceeding 10,000 signatures.
The tax increase was not part of Labour’s election manifesto, but government ministers argue it is necessary to address financial challenges inherited from the previous administration and support public services.
During the parliamentary exchange, Badenoch challenged Starmer to reaffirm Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ pledge not to increase taxes or borrowing further. Starmer declined, stating he would not “write the next five years of Budgets.”
The current online petition system, which replaced earlier versions, allows British citizens and UK residents to sign by providing a postcode. Historically, petition signatures have been significant, with the most popular e-petition being a 2019 call to cancel Brexit, which received 6.1 million signatures.
While this petition will not trigger a new election, it represents a notable expression of public sentiment. The debate provides a platform for discussing public concerns about the current government’s performance and policy directions.
The petition’s high number of signatures reflects ongoing political engagement and the public’s willingness to use digital platforms to voice their opinions about government actions and electoral outcomes.
The upcoming debate in Westminster Hall will offer an opportunity for political discourse, though it is not expected to result in any immediate changes to the current government’s status or policies.
