Have your say - should Keir Starmer call a general election?

A petition demanding a fresh general election has gained significant momentum over the weekend, with widespread sharing on social media by politicians and high-profile celebrities.

The petition, launched on the official government website, states: "I would like there to be another General Election. I believe the current Labour Government have gone back on the promises they laid out in the lead up to the last election."

Have your say! Should we go back to the polls for the fifth time in ten years? Does a petition like this have any weight to it? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.

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Opponents of the Labour party, including Reform UK MPs, have seized the opportunity to promote the petition. Rupert Lowe MP urging people to sign it by saying: "Register your discontent, register your anger, register your disgust with this Labour Government. Send Starmer a message. Sign, share, and share again."

Former Tory MP Mark Jenkinson said: “It looks like we’re heading for a parliamentary debate on having a general election and ‘the current Labour Government have gone back on the promises they laid out in the lead up to the last election’.”

Notable figures such as Olympic medallist Sharron Davies MBE and headmistress Katharine Birbalsingh have also publicly backed the petition, with Birbalsingh commenting: "Wouldn't it be extraordinary if Parliament had to debate this?"

The current petition, dubbed the quickest-growing ever, has shot up to third place in the rankings for most popular petitions. The government is obligated to respond to any that amass over 10,000 signatures, and those collecting 100,000 signatures may prompt a parliamentary debate.

Brexit still dominates the chart's top two positions, with more than 6 million people urging the government back in 2019 to overturn Brexit and remain part of the EU. Over 4 million in 2016 sought a second referendum. Both received time for discussion in Parliament, though neither movement was successful.

The Labour party have had a controversial start to their time in government in 2024, with the announcement of a number of unpopular policies. Means-testing Winter Fuel Payments, and a big tax-and-spend Autumn Budget, are big changes for the country - but ministers have said that they have to make "tough choices" in order to reverse what they claim is "damage" caused by the previous government.

Have your say! Should we go back to the polls for the fifth time in ten years? Does a petition like this have any weight to it? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.