Call an immediate general election to end the chaos of the current government
The Parliament petitions site records 906,624 signatures for this petition, which closed on 28 January 2023. The Government responded on 20 September 2022. MPs debated it in Westminster Hall on 17 October 2022.
The petition
The petition's creator is not named in the Petitions site's published record. Quoted in full from the UK Parliament petitions site.
Call an immediate general election to end the chaos of the current government
Call an immediate general election so that the people can decide who should lead us through the unprecedented crises threatening the UK.
The chaos engulfing the UK government is unprecedented. Over 40 ministers resigned leaving departments without leadership during cost of living, energy and climate crises. War rages in Ukraine; the Northern Ireland Protocol has further damaged our relationship with Europe; recession looms; the UK itself may cease to exist as Scotland seeks independence. This is the greatest set of challenges we have seen in our lifetimes. Let the people decide who leads us through this turmoil.
The Government's response
The Government published its response on 20 September 2022; the petitions site lists the Cabinet Office as responsible. Its summary:
The UK is a Parliamentary democracy and the Conservative Party remains the majority party. The Prime Minister has pledged to ensure opportunity and prosperity for all people and future generations.
The response in full:
The United Kingdom is a Parliamentary democracy, not a Presidential one. Following the general election of December 2019, Members of Parliament of the governing party (the Conservative Party) were elected, such that there is a majority in the House of Commons. This remains the case. A change in the leader of the governing party does not trigger a general election – this has been the case under governments of successive political colours.
The Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022 provides that Parliament is automatically dissolved five years after it first meets (unless it is dissolved sooner), otherwise the timing is a matter of discretion for the incumbent Prime Minister (subject to re-established constitutional conventions).
In her speech of 6 September 2022, the new Prime Minister set out three early priorities: to grow Britain’s economy, deal with the energy crisis caused by Putin’s war, and putting the national health service on a firm footing. The Prime Minister is determined to address the challenges the country faces and ensure opportunity and prosperity for all people and future generations.
Cabinet Office
Where the signatures came from
Signatures came from 650 constituencies on the boundaries used until the 2024 general election. The largest number, 4,995, came from Bristol West.
895,227 of the signatures were from the UK and 11,397 from elsewhere, by the location signers gave.
| Constituency | Signatures |
|---|---|
| Bristol West | 4,995 |
| Brighton, Pavilion | 4,698 |
| Hornsey and Wood Green | 3,598 |
| Hove | 3,532 |
| Hackney North and Stoke Newington | 3,379 |
| Lewisham, Deptford | 3,158 |
| Edinburgh North and Leith | 3,075 |
| Dulwich and West Norwood | 3,030 |
| Islington North | 3,007 |
| Cambridge | 2,982 |
| Region | Signatures |
|---|---|
| South East | 133,963 |
| London | 119,160 |
| North West | 108,081 |
| South West | 95,504 |
| East of England | 78,171 |
| Scotland | 76,990 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 69,719 |
| West Midlands | 62,596 |
| East Midlands | 56,748 |
| Wales | 45,267 |
| North East | 35,267 |
| Northern Ireland | 8,816 |
Debate in Parliament
MPs debated the petition in Westminster Hall on 17 October 2022. Read the debate in Hansard. House of Commons Library debate pack.
Source and receipt
- https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/619781.jsonUK Parliament Petitions API · read 2026-10-15 · SHA-256
9100a5f3ec120a48… - The petition on petition.parliament.uk
The petition's words are its creator's and the response is the Government's; this site quotes both and gives no view on either. Signature counts can still change while a petition is open. To report an error, send a correction request.