Sir Keir Starmer’s Government has firmly rejected mounting demands for an immediate General Election after a parliamentary petition attracted more than 700,000 signatures, with numbers continuing to surge by thousands each hour.
The Cabinet Office was compelled to issue a formal 258-word response yesterday after the petition crossed the 10,000-signature threshold requiring government acknowledgement. Westminster Hall, which debated a similar petition demanding fresh elections in January, will consider this latest call after it exceeded 100,000 signatures within days of launching.
The petition, which has gained an additional 2,000 supporters in the past hour alone, reveals stark geographical divisions in opposition to the Labour Government. More than 1,900 voters in Nigel Farage’s Clacton constituency have backed the demand, whilst just 418 people in Starmer’s own Holborn & St Pancras seat have signed.
Government Stands Firm Despite Growing Pressure
In its official response, the Government stated: “The Prime Minister can call a General Election at a time of their choosing by requesting a dissolution of Parliament from the Sovereign within the five-year life of a Parliament.
The statement continued: “The Government was elected by the British people on a mandate of change at the July 2024 general election. This Government is fixing the foundations and delivering change with investment and reform to deliver growth.”
Cabinet Office officials emphasised that the administration had inherited “unprecedented challenges, with crumbling public services and crippled public finances,” but insisted it would deliver “a decade of national renewal” through its five core missions.
Constitutional Reality Check
Despite the petition’s momentum, constitutional experts confirm there is virtually no prospect of forcing an early election. Under the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act, which replaced the Fixed-term Parliaments Act, the Prime Minister alone holds the power to request dissolution from the monarch.
“A House of Commons confidence vote could theoretically force a General Election, although the composition of Parliament makes such a scenario incredibly unlikely,” explained constitutional law professor Sarah Mitchell from King’s College London.
Starmer commands a formidable 174-seat majority following Labour’s July 2024 landslide victory, creating what political analysts term a “super-majority” that effectively shields his government from parliamentary rebellion.
Historical Context and Recent Setbacks
The last Prime Minister to lose a confidence vote was James Callaghan in 1979, falling by a single vote before Margaret Thatcher’s historic election victory. Only two other governments lost confidence votes during the entire 20th century, with Stanley Baldwin and Ramsay MacDonald both suffering defeats in 1924.
More recently, both Boris Johnson and Theresa May survived no-confidence challenges, securing majorities of 109 and 19 votes respectively.
However, Starmer did suffer an unexpected parliamentary defeat last month when Labour rebels revolted against his now-abandoned proposals to slash £5 billion from Britain’s benefits budget, revealing potential cracks in party unity.
Previous Petition Exceeded Three Million
This marks the second major petition demanding fresh elections since Labour took office. A previous petition launched by pub landlord Michael Westwood attracted over three million signatures before closing, prompting a Westminster Hall debate in January where the Prime Minister dismissed calls for what he termed a “re-run.”
“I’m not that surprised that three million people who didn’t vote Labour last year want another go,” Starmer told MPs during that debate, noting that the July election itself represented “a massive petition” endorsing his government.
The earlier petition particularly gained traction after tech billionaire Elon Musk shared it on X (formerly Twitter), commenting simply “Wow” as signatures surged past the million mark within days.
Labour’s Defence of Its Record
The Government’s response highlighted its claimed inheritance of a “£22 billion black hole” in public finances upon taking office. Officials insisted the administration’s first Budget had “freed up tens of billions of pounds to invest in Britain’s future while locking in stability.”
“Mission-led government rejects the sticking-plaster solutions of the past,” the statement declared, promising to unite “public and private sectors, national, devolved and local government, business and unions” in shared purpose.
Labour emphasised its five core missions: economic growth, fixing the NHS, safer streets, making Britain a clean energy superpower, and opportunity for all.
Opposition Seizes Opportunity
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has previously used similar petitions to attack the Government, telling Starmer that millions signing represented people “asking him to go.” Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has also capitalised on the discontent, with his Clacton constituency showing particularly high petition engagement.
“This petition reflects the Prime Minister’s plummeting support in opinion polls,” said Conservative MP James Cartwright. Recent polling by More in Common showed Labour’s support had dropped nine points since the election to just 25 per cent, with the Tories opening a narrow three-point lead.
What Happens Next
Westminster Hall will schedule a debate on the petition once parliamentary time allows, likely within the coming weeks. However, such debates cannot force government action and typically conclude without a binding vote.
The next General Election must be held by 15 August 2029 at the latest, giving Starmer potentially four more years in Downing Street regardless of public pressure. The petition remains open for signatures until 20 May 2025.
Political analyst Dr Rebecca Thompson from the Institute for Government noted: “While these petitions generate headlines and provide opposition parties with ammunition, they have no constitutional force. The real test for Starmer will come at the local elections in May.”
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