UK Government Responds to Growing Petition Demanding Immediate General Election

The UK Government has issued a formal response after a rapidly growing public petition calling for a snap General Election surged past 680,000 signatures. The petition, hosted on the official Parliament website, has drawn mounting attention over the past 10 days, far exceeding the 100,000-signature threshold required for MPs to debate it.

The appeal states, “we want an immediate general election to be held. We think the majority need and want change,” and urges citizens to add their names. The petition’s momentum has been fueled in part by criticism of Prime Minister Keir Starmer over a range of issues, from controversial new pornography laws to debates over the future of UK pubs.

Started by campaigner Nicola Cree, the petition must now be debated when Parliament returns from its summer recess. This marks the second time within a year that calls for a repeat of the previous July 4 general election have reached the debate benchmark.

This time, however, the Government has broken its silence with a detailed statement defending its position and rejecting the need for an early vote, as per reports Daily Star.

“This Government was elected on a mandate of change at the July 2024 general election. Our full focus is on fixing the foundations, rebuilding Britain, and restoring public confidence in government,” the statement read.

It reiterated that the Prime Minister retains the authority to call a general election “at a time of their choosing” within a five-year parliamentary term, subject to a request for dissolution from the Sovereign.

The Government pointed to its work addressing a £22 billion deficit discovered upon taking office, as well as “unprecedented challenges” including weakened public services and strained national finances.

The statement outlined five key missions economic growth, fixing the NHS, safer streets, making Britain a clean energy superpower, and expanding opportunity for all and pledged to deliver a “decade of national renewal.”

It also credited the Government’s first Budget with freeing “tens of billions of pounds to invest in Britain’s future,” while ensuring stability, avoiding deep austerity measures, and protecting workers’ incomes.

“Mission-led government rejects the sticking-plaster solutions of the past and unites public and private sectors, national, devolved and local government, business and unions, and the whole of civil society in a shared purpose,” the statement concluded.

The debate over the petition will take place after Parliament reconvenes, ensuring MPs will have to formally address one of the largest public calls for an early election in recent years.