Displaying items by tag: call for general election

Just five months after Labour’s election victory, a petition demanding a fresh general election has reached nearly 2.8 million signatures, triggering a parliamentary debate set for 6 January. The petition accuses the Labour government of breaking campaign promises. High-profile figures like actor Michael Caine and entrepreneur Elon Musk have fuelled the petition’s momentum. Despite claims of possible non-UK signatories, the House of Commons is confident the majority are legitimate British citizens or residents. Keir Starmer dismissed calls for a new election, attributing dissatisfaction to tough budget decisions, such as inheritance tax changes, loss of winter fuel payments for pensioners, and new VAT on private school fees. He emphasised his focus on governance, stating, 'That isn’t how our system works’. The debate will test the Government’s response to public discontent and its ability to regain voter trust amidst growing pressure.