𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Keir Starmer was facing a fresh headache after one million citizens signed a nightmare petition for Labour, urging Parliament to call an immediate General Election. 

While Labour has given no signs it will listen to the petition, the demand by more than one million citizens will be debated in Parliament on Monday.

The petition, which received nearly 1,060,000 signatures, states: “We want an immediate General Election to be held. We think the majority need and want change.”

Monday’s debate comes as Politico’s poll of polls shows Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party is tied with the Greens on 16%, behind Kemi Badenoch’s Conservatives (18%) and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK (29%).

The constituency with the highest number of signatures (3,210) was the Essex seat of Brentwood and Ongar, held by Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Alex Burghart, widely considered a key ally of Mrs Badenoch.

He said: “My constituents in Brentwood and Ongar, along with over a million people across the country, have made their views clear on this Labour Government – the most unpopular in history. They have broken promise after promise and carried out U-turn after U-turn.

It is clear that people are crying out for a credible alternative. Only Kemi Badenoch and the Conservatives have the team and the plan to deliver the change this country needs.”

Demand for an election was also strong in the Conservative-held seats of Castle Point (3,098), Braintree (2,995), Rayleigh and Wickford (2,950) and Maldon (2929), but also in Labour-held Portsmouth North (2,910) and Burnley (2,862) and Mr Farage’s Clacton (2,854).

Labour has given no indication it is considering a snap election.

The Government responded to the petition, saying: “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 debate will last for up to three hours and Anna Turley, who chairs the Labour Party and is a minister without portfolio, will respond on behalf of the Government.