Just months after Keir Starmer’s sweeping general election win, public backlash has erupted with over 1.4 million Britons signing a petition demanding another vote.
Critics accuse Starmer of betraying key manifesto promises, citing contentious moves like cutting Winter Fuel Payments and proposing a £40 billion tax hike.
The overwhelming response has triggered a Westminster Hall debate, though there is little chance of a new election being called.
Despite Labour’s massive 411-seat super-majority, the petition highlights growing dissatisfaction and social discord, amplified by Labour’s recent nine-point drop in the polls.
Starmer’s opposition seized the moment, with remaining Tory MPs and others preparing to weaponise the debate ahead of the 2025 local elections.
The petition’s organiser Michael Westwood lambasted the prime minister for “broken promises”, echoing the frustrations of voters across the spectrum.
On holding petition debates, the UK Government website says: “Petitions which reach 100,000 signatures are almost always debated. But we may decide not to put a petition forward for debate if the issue has already been debated recently or there’s a debate scheduled for the near future.”
Polls now show the Conservatives narrowly leading Labour at 28 per cent to 25 per cent, with Reform UK and other parties also gaining ground.
This article was originally published by the Daily Telegraph New Zealand.
