A official petition advocating for a general election to challenge the newly established Labour Party government has surpassed two million signatures, marking rapid growth within a week, as of the latest update.
Initial reports recorded over 750,000 signatories, highlighting significant public engagement. The petition criticizes the government for allegedly retracting commitments made during the election campaign, prompting calls for an electoral challenge. As of Sunday after the petition was attracting 110,000 signatures per hour, one of the fastest ever petitions on the official UK government website.
The Labour Party, led by Sir Keir Starmer, ascended to power in July, securing a majority of 174 seats. This achievement, however, was accompanied by a modest electoral support of just over a third of voters, marking a notable contrast with the party’s previous triumph in 1997 under Tony Blair. Since assuming office, the Prime Minister has faced declining approval ratings, largely due to horrendous policy measures and worse cabinet picks. Among these are reductions in fuel subsidies for pensioners and proposals to extend the “death tax” to family-owned farms.
A recent Ipsos survey reflects the shifting public sentiment, documenting only 23% of respondents holding a positive view of Starmer, while 52% expressed unfavorable opinions.
Meanwhile, Reform UK, under Nigel Farage’s leadership, has been gaining political momentum. Farage’s appeal appears to be growing, with 28 percent of the public viewing him favorably. In response to the burgeoning petition, Reform UK officials, including Deputy Leader Richard Tice and MP Rupert Lowe, encouraged widespread public participation.
In the UK’s political system, petitions surpassing 100,000 signatures merit consideration for parliamentary debate, with the government obligated to reply to those exceeding 10,000.
