General election now – and always call one if a PM is replaced
The Parliament petitions site records 20,013 signatures for this petition. The Government responded on 13 August 2026.
The petition
Created by Robert JF Barnes. Quoted in full from the UK Parliament petitions site.
General election now – and always call one if a PM is replaced
In July 2024, Sir Keir Starmer was elected as Prime Minister. His Government introduced measures that weren't in the Labour Party's manifesto and he has resigned. We want an election now. If any PM resigns, their successor should have a mandate from the people and call an immediate General Election.
We believe many people have lost confidence in the current Government, that we were misled, and we cannot go on like this for a further 3 years. It is time for action.
We believe the Government has failed to defend our borders from the small boats, and illegal immigration is out of control. We have no confidence in the way this Government has acted. In our view, pensioners and farmers have been betrayed by policies that were not included in Labour's manifesto.
We also feel that rape gang survivors have been badly let down. Justice delayed is Justice denied. Dissolve Parliament. General Election now!
The Government's response
The Government published its response on 13 August 2026; the petitions site lists the Cabinet Office as responsible. Its summary:
At General Elections voters elect local MPs to represent their constituency, not the Prime Minister directly. The Government has no plans to change constitutional arrangements for General Elections.
The response in full:
The United Kingdom is a parliamentary democracy. In a general election, the public does not vote directly for a Prime Minister; instead, voters elect an individual Member of Parliament (MP) to represent their local constituency in the House of Commons.
Following that general election, the Government is usually formed by the political party or parties with the most seats in the House of Commons. The Prime Minister is appointed by the Sovereign as the person best able to command the confidence of the House of Commons.
There is no requirement to hold a general election when a Prime Minister resigns. A new Prime Minister is assumed to command the confidence of the House of Commons unless and until they lose a vote on a matter of confidence.
Automatically triggering a general election during times of transition could create political and economic instability at a moment when the country requires continuity and steady leadership. In addition, under the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022, the maximum term of a Parliament is five years, which ensures regular opportunities for the public to exercise their democratic rights and choose which MPs and which parties should represent them.
The Government believes the existing constitutional framework remains appropriate, providing a vital balance between democratic accountability and executive stability, and does not plan to change how general elections are triggered.
Cabinet Office
Source and receipt
- https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions.json?state=with_response&page=2UK Parliament Petitions API · read 2026-10-15 · SHA-256
d4d1939fdb644d48… - 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.