Less than 200 days after the recent July General Election, a surprising wave of public discontent has sparked a movement for a fresh election, with an online petition racking up over 500,000 signatures. The petition, which is quickly gaining traction, calls for another General Election, drawing significant attention to the dissatisfaction surrounding the current government's actions.
The process for petitions in the UK is clear: any petition that garners more than 10,000 signatures requires a formal response from the government. However, it’s when petitions reach the 100,000-signature mark that they truly get the government's attention, with Parliament then considering them for debate. And this petition, created by Michael Westwood, has already far exceeded that threshold. His message is simple but pointed: “I would like there to be another General Election. I believe the current Labour Government has gone back on the promises they laid out in the lead-up to the last election.”
What’s driving this demand for another election? For many, it’s a sense of betrayal—many feel that the Labour Party has failed to live up to the commitments they made during their campaign earlier this year. In July, Labour laid out six crucial promises that they vowed to fulfill if elected. These promises ranged from economic stability to healthcare reform, all of which were designed to resonate with the everyday concerns of voters. But now, less than six months later, the cracks are beginning to show, and the dissatisfaction is bubbling over.
What Did Labour Promise?
Let’s take a closer look at the promises Labour made, as these were the pillars of their election campaign:
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Economy: Labour vowed to deliver economic stability by imposing tough spending rules. Their goal was to grow the economy while keeping taxes, inflation, and mortgage rates as low as possible. This was a core message, given the cost-of-living crisis and the financial strain many families were already under.
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Healthcare: One of their standout promises was to reduce NHS waiting times. The plan was to introduce 40,000 additional appointments each week, focusing on evenings and weekends. The funding for this initiative was expected to come from cracking down on tax avoidance and closing non-domiciled tax loopholes.
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Borders: Labour promised to take a hard stance on border security, proposing the launch of a new Border Security Command. This initiative aimed to deploy hundreds of new specialist investigators and use counter-terrorism powers to dismantle criminal gangs involved in illegal boat crossings.
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Energy: On energy, Labour committed to setting up a publicly owned company, Great British Energy, to help drive down energy bills and enhance energy security. The funding for this project would come from a windfall tax on major oil and gas companies that had made excessive profits.
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Crime: Labour also promised to tackle antisocial behaviour by recruiting more neighborhood police officers. The funding for this would be sourced from ending what they described as “wasteful contracts” within other sectors. The government also pledged to introduce tough penalties for offenders and create a new network of youth hubs to prevent crime from taking root in the first place.
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Education: Labour aimed to recruit 6,500 new teachers in key subjects to better prepare children for life and work. This would be funded by removing tax breaks for private schools, thus shifting resources toward improving the state education system.
These promises were bold, sweeping, and carried a lot of weight with voters. But as we know, the path from campaign promises to actual policies is rarely smooth, and this is where things have started to unravel for Labour.
Labour's Struggles in Delivering on Promises
Despite the promises, the current government has faced considerable backlash. One of the most significant criticisms was over Labour’s handling of employment rights. Last month, Labour’s Employment Minister, Alison McGovern, defended the government’s delayed introduction of a major new employment rights bill, which won’t be enacted until 2026.
In an exclusive interview with Metro, McGovern argued that the bill would address long-standing issues in employment, issues that politicians across different parties have been trying to resolve for years. She acknowledged the criticism but emphasized that the bill would undergo extensive legislative processes, giving time for full debate and refinement. McGovern also assured that the government would collaborate with key bodies like the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) throughout this process.
However, these reassurances have not stopped the public from growing increasingly frustrated with the pace of reform. Many feel that promises made during the election are already being watered down or delayed, fueling calls for another election to reassess the direction of the country.
Backlash from Specific Groups
Some of the most vocal opposition has come from groups that feel particularly let down by the government’s actions. A notable example is the recent farmer’s protest in Westminster. Farmers, in particular, are upset about the government’s Budget announcement, which included a new 20% levy on family farms worth over £1 million. The policy is intended to fund various government initiatives, but for farmers, it feels like an unfair burden.
Thousands of farmers took to the streets in Westminster to protest this new tax, chanting slogans like "Keir Starmer the farmer harmer." This protest highlights the growing divide between the government’s promises and the reality of how those promises are playing out for certain groups.
The Call for a New Election
The petition calling for another election reflects this widespread disillusionment. With over 500,000 signatures already, it’s clear that a significant portion of the population is calling for a new vote. The petition’s creator, Michael Westwood, believes that the government has failed to deliver on key promises and that the only way forward is to hold another General Election.
The public’s dissatisfaction is being driven by a combination of delayed policies, broken promises, and tax measures that are hitting particular groups hard. Whether or not the petition leads to another election remains to be seen, but it’s evident that Labour’s hold on power is being tested in ways they may not have anticipated.
Looking Ahead
So, what happens next? The government is required to respond to petitions that exceed 10,000 signatures, and Parliament will consider those that cross the 100,000-signature mark for debate. The petition for a new General Election has already surpassed this threshold, meaning it will likely become a key point of discussion in Parliament. If this issue is debated, it could lead to further scrutiny of Labour's track record and their ability to deliver on the promises they made to voters.
For now, the question remains: Will the government be able to turn things around before they face the wrath of the electorate again? Or will the petition for another election gain even more momentum, leading to a political shake-up that could change the course of the country's future?
Only time will tell, but the growing calls for accountability and transparency are clear. The public is watching closely, and if the Labour Party cannot deliver on their promises, they may face even more pressure to answer the growing demand for a fresh General Election.
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