Who are the 2 million demanding a general election? Crunching viral petition numbers

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Sir Keir Starmer has dismissed the idea of calling a general election, even though over two million people signed a petition requesting another vote.

The petition states, "I am in favor of having another general election."

I think the present Labour government has not fulfilled the commitments they made before the most recent election.

When questioned about the petition during ITV’s This Morning show on Monday, Sir Keir rejected the idea of holding an election, stating that "that's not how our system operates."

He mentioned, "I have to keep in mind that a significant number of people chose not to vote for Labour in the last election."

"I'm not shocked that so many of them are asking for a repeat."

The government is required to address any petitions that gather more than 10,000 signatures, while those that reach 100,000 signatures are taken into consideration by parliament.

The request is gaining traction amidst increasing criticism of Labour's budget. This budget has caused a stir due to increases in national insurance and the decision to apply inheritance tax to farms, along with other unpopular measures designed to address the funding gap.

Notable figures who have endorsed the petition include billionaire and Trump supporter Elon Musk, who has often criticized Sir Keir since he took office, as well as British actor Michael Caine.

Who’s Calling For A General Election?

The petition was initiated on November 20 and has quickly gathered more than 2,184,000 signatures as of now.

Most of the people who signed the petition come from areas where Conservative or Reform candidates are likely to win easily.

Several names associated with these seats might sound recognizable, especially as outspoken opponents of the current Labour government. The MPs representing the constituencies that have gathered the highest number of signatures on the petitions include opposition leader Kemi Badenoch, former leadership contender James Cleverly, and at the forefront, Alex Burghart.

The petition has gained significant support from the constituents of Reform leaders Richard Tice and Nigel Farage, amassing a total of 9,550 signatures across their two areas.

Nonetheless, more than a million signatures have been collected from areas represented by Labour MPs.

The Labour MP who has the highest number of constituents requesting a general election is Kevin McKenna, as 4,609 of his constituents have signed the petition.

In July, Mr. McKenna secured his seat in Sittingbourne and Sheppey with a narrow victory of only 355 votes.

The district saw a low participation rate in the elections, with only 51.9 percent of eligible voters casting their ballots, and it has traditionally leaned towards the Conservative party.

His slim victory probably left many locals dissatisfied in a region that strongly backs the Conservatives. However, it's uncertain if those who signed the petition could actually remove Mr. McKenna in a future election.

No Labour constituency has had more than 6 percent of its residents sign the petition.

Despite this unhappiness, it might create worry for Labour MPs who have narrow margins. In Derbyshire Dales, Labour MP John Whitby secured victory by just 350 votes, and more than 4,426 of his constituents have put their names on a petition demanding a new election. MPs in Ribble Valley, Middlesbrough South, and Redditch are experiencing a similar situation.

Many residents in South Norfolk have also added their names to the petition, which is linked to their Labour MP, Terry Jermy.

Mr. Jermy has recently been under increased pressure due to the protests by farmers, especially since his district, which contains 408 farms, is being targeted by the Conservative Party.

Some supporters of Labour leaders have joined the effort by signing a petition for a new election, and there are more than 3,000 signatures collected in Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner's constituency.

According to the information provided in the petition forms, at least 14,276 signatures came from individuals residing outside the United Kingdom.

Numerous signatures were collected from people in the United States, Spain, France, and Australia.

The petition has garnered several hundred signatures from individuals in Thailand, the UAE, and Cyprus.

There are even five signatures recorded from Vatican City, the home of the Pope.

Only individuals who are British citizens or residents of the UK can sign this kind of petition for it to be reviewed by Parliament.

Nevertheless, the quick growth of the petition could complicate the process of confirming the identities of the more than two million people who signed it. The Independent has contacted the government to find out how many of the signatures have been verified.

The situation isn’t made any better by the involvement of non-citizens like billionaire Elon Musk, who championed the petition. He stated on X that “the people of Britain are fed up with an oppressive police state.”