Over 2 Million Sign Petition, Can’t Force an Election And It Can Lead Nowhere: – Tom Harwood Explains Why”

Over 2 million people have signed a petition calling for a general election in the UK within just 24 hours. The remarkable surge has made this one of the fastest-growing petitions ever on the UK Parliament’s petitions website, highlighting significant public frustration with the government. However, experts suggest that while the petition captures public discontent, its impact may be limited.

Under the rules of the parliamentary petitions system, petitions that gather over 100,000 signatures can trigger a debate in Parliament. However, these debates typically take place in Westminster Hall, a secondary chamber, rather than in the main House of Commons. Historically, such debates rarely result in concrete policy changes.

Tom Harwood, speaking on GB News, explained, “This petition reflects the anger many people feel, but constitutionally, it doesn’t have the power to force an election. It allows people to express their frustration, but it’s unlikely to shake a government with such a large majority.”

The Labour Party, which currently holds a substantial majority in the House of Commons, is under no obligation to call an early election. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, facing slipping poll numbers, is unlikely to risk a vote that could reduce the party’s dominance.

To force an election, Parliament would need to pass a vote of no confidence in the government—a near-impossible scenario given Labour’s control of 411 seats compared to the Conservatives’ 121.

While the petition has gained attention, political analysts highlight a key limitation: petitions hosted on Parliament’s official website do not collect personal data such as email addresses. This prevents organizers from mobilizing the millions of signatories into an effective grassroots movement.

“Petitions like this can express anger but don’t help build campaigns,” Harwood noted. “Without data, it’s hard to connect these people, organize local efforts, and translate their frustration into meaningful electoral change.”

For those eager to challenge the government, the first real opportunity will come in the local elections on May 1, 2025. Analysts argue that grassroots activism, such as supporting local candidates, knocking on doors, and attending political meetings, will be far more effective than signing online petitions.

While the petition has undoubtedly captured a mood, it remains to be seen whether this momentum can be sustained and transformed into tangible political action. For now, it seems the petition will result in a routine parliamentary debate, far removed from the high expectations of its millions of signatories.