Snap general election debate called by MPs as over 1m sign petition
In January 2026 MPs are to hold a debate amid calls to hold a snap general election as a petition has more than 1 million signatures.
A petition which was set up six months ago is on the parliamentary website which is called “Call an immediate general election.”
MPs have said the debate will be held on 12 January in Westminster Hall after the Petitions Committee of the House of Commons confirmed it on Thursday.
The debate will be led by Tory MP John Lamont, and a government MP will have to respond to the demand to hold an early snap general election.
A previous petition garnered more than three million signatures which was set up by Michael Westwood.
In August the government responded to the previous petition saying, “This Government was elected on a mandate of change at the July 2024 general election.
“Our full focus is on fixing the foundations, rebuilding Britain, and restoring public confidence in government.”
They added that a Prime Minister “can call a general election at a time of their choosing by requesting a dissolution of Parliament from the Sovereign within the five-year life of a Parliament.”
Today the government announced that they will cancel May elections in Essex, Hampshire, Sussex, Brighton, Norfolk and Suffolk as Sir Keir Starmer fears that Reform will win the votes for new mayors.
Nigel Farage branded the government’s move as “despotic,” the Reform UK leader furiously hit out at Starmer saying, “For the second year running, this failing Labour government will now CANCEL elections in areas they fear that Reform will win.
“These are the actions of despots, not democrats.”
Reform’s head of policy Zia Yusuf said, “This is a blatant attempt to stop big Reform wins next May. It’s an act of a desperate government who are clinging onto power by any means necessary.
“Labour has proven time and time again that they’re not beyond denying democracy to millions of people in order to maintain their cosy status quo.”
Liberal Democrats, with spokesperson Zoe Franklin said, “Democracy delayed is democracy denied. We are fighting to end this blatant stitch up between Labour and the Conservatives over local elections.
“The Liberal Democrats will keep working to give millions of people their vote back in May.”
