In an extraordinary display of public dissent, over a million Britons have now signed a petition demanding a fresh General Election, just 143 days into Keir Starmer’s Labour government.
With Westminster in disarray and trust in the political system at a historic low, citizens are saying they will now call for a bold and historic step by petitioning King Charles III under the Bill of Rights 1689, if Parliament fail to deliver.
A Labour Government on Shaky Ground
Labour’s July 2024 victory was far from a sweeping mandate. A divided right-wing vote handed Starmer a majority, despite just 20 percent of the electorate supporting his party. Since then, a wave of broken promises and deeply unpopular policies has sparked nationwide outrage.
The government stands accused of betraying farmers, abandoning pensioners in freezing conditions, overburdening schools, and implementing punitive taxes—all while funneling millions overseas and releasing dangerous criminals early.
Even lifelong Labour voters are expressing their disillusionment. One supporter, who has voted Labour faithfully for the past 40 years, told the Conservative Post: “I feel utterly betrayed. This isn’t the Labour Party I know and love. It’s a reckless socialist experiment gone mad. Starmer has abandoned his promises, shattered Labour’s reputation, and it’s hardworking Britons who are being left to pick up the pieces.”
Why Petition the King?
In a remarkable show of public discontent, over a million Britons have now signed a petition calling for a fresh General Election, just 143 days into Keir Starmer’s Labour government.
The petition was started by small business owner Michael Westwood. Mr Westwood who owns a pub in Oldbury, in the West Midlands, told the Express:
“The British public feel like they have been betrayed with the promises that were told in the lead to the election and then what has been delivered since – it looks nothing like what was promised.
“I think people have had enough, people have seen what’s happened over in America as well, and I think that’s had a knock on effect that, actually, if people stand together and vote then we can make a change.”
Under current UK rules, once a petition surpasses 100,000 signatures, it is required to be debated in Parliament. However, many believe Labour will simply brush Mr Westwood’s petition aside. As frustration mounts, however, focus is shifting to the Bill of Rights 1689, which enshrines the public’s right to petition the monarch without fear of reprisal. This seldom-invoked constitutional provision offers a direct avenue for citizens to express their grievances to King Charles III, bypassing what critics increasingly view as an unresponsive Parliament.
One campaigner declared: “Parliament may ignore us, but the King cannot. It’s time to march to Buckingham Palace, present this petition to the King and demand our voices be heard.”
The Bill of Rights 1689 explicitly enshrines the public’s right to petition the monarch:
“That it is the right of the subjects to petition the king, and all commitments and prosecutions for such petitioning are illegal.”
This right, rarely invoked in modern times, was designed to give citizens a voice when Parliament fails them—a safeguard against the kind of governance many now feel is at play.
“The government might dismiss a petition in Parliament,” said a constitutional expert, “but a mass appeal to the King would be impossible to ignore. It would remind Labour—and the world—that power ultimately belongs to the people.”
The People’s Voice
As discontent rises, one thing is clear: the British public will not be ignored. Whether through Parliament or a direct appeal to the King, the Great British people are demanding accountability and action.
“This government has overplayed its hand,” said a campaigner. “The people have had enough. If Labour won’t listen, then we’ll make our voices heard through the King. This is our right, and we will use it.”
The question now is whether Labour will change course—or face the wrath of a nation ready to invoke its ultimate constitutional safeguard. As one protester put it: “We’re not asking for change—we’re demanding it.”
The coming weeks could see an extraordinary moment in modern British history, as the people exercise their ancient right to petition the monarch, reminding the nation that power ultimately resides with them.
ADD YOUR SIGNATURE TO THE PETITION HERE: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/700143
Claire Bullivant, Editor
Claire is the founder and editor of the Conservative Post and was a co-founder of the Conservative Democratic Organisation. Claire is now setting up www.GreatBritishPAC.com. Pre-register today.
I am confused.
Over one million signatures calling for a referendum to approve or reject the BREXIIT agreement is overthrowing the will of the people, but over one million signatures to remove a government which has just been elected is a public right?
Why the confusion? This petition is to get rid of a government that has lied and backtracked on everything they got elected on and a p m who is anti British and unfit to hold office. A man who releases peados and murderers and jails innocent
protesters for waving a banner or for telling the truth. What is hard to understand here?
If you are left or right leaning and a centrist government was in government. You could very easily be a shade or two too left or right wing. Centrist policies wouldn’t appease a left or right wing voter.
I’m pointing out that while only right wing Nazi fascist thugs (sarcasm used) who have had the impudence to speak out under Labour, what if this had been left wing commenter who were bring rounded up like crime Lords and imprisoned. Men and women of previous good character have been dtopped into jail in their 60s, not just that but highlighted to Muslim prison gangs.
Imagine it was you who felt it necessary to hang yourself in your cell to avoid attacks. Left right or centrist, free speech has been there for us in the UK. Now its not. We have to accept the Government’s narrative on all things. You may or may not agree with it but you shouldn’t find yourself in prison for non-violent actions reinterpreted as violent simply to appease the current government’s leanings. Four years and those leanings will change, Labour has effectively had far less terms of power, do you accept you can be arrested in four years time for very little?
This and other things are the difference between now, Labour’s actions upon and lies to the British public, Brexit was a completely different matter. This coukd be classed as lawfare or warfare on specific demographics. Surely rapists and paedos who watch babies raped have to face sentencing. But they aren’t but social media posters are.
The Brexit referendum was the will of the people the government asked for.
That has nothing whatsoever to do with millions of people being dismissed as irrelevant by the government !
I want a general election now this government needs to be removed as they lied to all of us and needs to go now
This corrupt govt are releasing murderers and rapists and paedophiles but jailing people for posting truths on social media? That cannot be right under any circumstances. This corrupt govt lied through its teeth to gain power and introduced obscene taxes on hardworking people whilst sending billions of Gbp abroad. The were going to crush the people smuggling gangs~ nothing. Our homeless people are still homeless whilst illegal criminal immigrants are put up in hotels! NO! WE NEED A DIFFERENT GOVT FOR THE PEOPLE NOW!
How do we petition the king ? Under the 1689 legacy ? Our country is a laughing stock…. Like Brexit older people voted with their hearts and younger with their heads. It’s the same here, but who can blame labour voters for believing in them. But they lied through their teeth, LIEBOUR are clowns give me Winston and Maggie any day. We are living like Victorians in the pits of poverty. Please how can we get the King to look at this ?
what is the matter with our governments, there is neglect everywhere and our council say they cannot get staff! What’s wrong with people who claim benefit being told to help keep our streets clean and generally give something back for their benefit?! I know some people are unable to work, but there are many that just don’t want to!!