A petition demanding Sir Keir Starmer dissolves Parliament and calls an immediate General Election has reached a major milestone just days before the Prime Minister faces a crunch debate in Westminster Hall.
The petition, which is now the third demanding a snap poll since Labour came to power in July 2024, reached 100,000 signatures last night after receiving a 40,000-strong boost in less than 24 hours.
The Prime Minister is facing a backlash from voters as opinion polls suggest his approval rating stands at a net negative of minus 58 per cent.
MPs will have the opportunity to debate holding a snap General Election on January 12, just 12 months after the first petition calling for a new poll reached Westminster Hall.
The first petition received more than three million signatures, with the second surpassing one million just last month.
Despite the third petition exceeding the threshold required to force yet another Westminster Hall debate, the Petitions Committee could opt to block MPs from discussing the topic.
The Petitions Committee is not obligated to hold a debate if MPs have already debated the topic recently or if it is deemed similar to another open petition.
However, the third petition, which will run until June 10, is expected to garner more support over the coming months.
The Prime Minister is facing a backlash from voters as opinion polls suggest his approval rating stands at a net negative of minus 58 per cent
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In the petition’s description, creator Robert JF Barners wrote: “On July 4, 2024, Sir Keir Starmer was elected as Prime Minister.
“Since then, his Government has introduced measures that were not included in the Labour Party’s manifesto.
“We believe we were misled and the obfuscation has only got worse since Starmer took power.
“It is time for action. We believe the Government has failed to defend our borders from the small boats.
The petition surpassed 100,000 signatures last night
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“We have no confidence in the way this Government has acted. Pensioners and farmers have been directly affected by policies that were not included in Labour’s manifesto.
“Our country cannot go on like this. Dissolve Parliament and call a General Election now!”
Despite a growing number of Britons signing the petition, the Prime Minister last year rejected claims he had broken his manifesto commitments.
Sir Keir also directly addressed the first petition demanding an immediate general election in November 2024.
Westminster Hall hosted a 150-minute debate back in January 2024
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The Prime Minister said: “Look, I remind myself that very many people didn’t vote Labour at the last election. I’m not surprised that many of them want a rerun. That isn’t how our system works.
“There will be plenty of people who didn’t want us in the first place. So, what my focus is on is the decisions that I have to make every day.”
Despite the third petition awaiting a response from the Government, the two previous petitions make clear the decision to dissolve Parliament remains a royal prerogative exercised on the advice of the Prime Minister.
Following the repeal of the 2011 Fixed-term Parliaments Act in 2022, the Prime Minister can request a dissolution at a time of their choosing, though it must be within five years of the last general election.
Another petition, which awaits confirmation of a potential Westminster Hall debate, received a response from the Government in September last year
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However, today sees the Prime Minister face a double petition blow after 105,000 Britons demanded the public receive the right to vote no confidence in Sir Keir Starmer’s Government.
The petition, which awaits confirmation of a potential Westminster Hall debate, received a response from the Government in September last year.
The Cabinet Office said: “The Government holds office by virtue of being able to command the confidence of the House of Commons, whose members are elected by the public.
“There are no plans to change these arrangements.”