By Barbra Nakiwala
Labour Party leader and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has addressed growing calls for a new general election following a petition accusing his government of breaking campaign promises.
The petition, hosted on Parliament’s website, has amassed over two million signatures, making it the third most-signed petition since 2010.
The petition, supported by figures like Nigel Farage and Elon Musk, claims Labour has reneged on pre-election commitments and urges a fresh poll. While the petition has surpassed 100,000 signatures—qualifying it for parliamentary debate—it cannot directly trigger an election.
Responding on ITV’s This Morning, Sir Keir said, “I’m not surprised some people who didn’t vote for us want a re-run. My focus is on making the tough decisions necessary for the NHS, schools, and the country’s future.”
Labour secured a historic victory in July, with 412 seats but only 35% of the popular vote—the lowest for a majority government since WWII. Sir Keir defended his leadership, emphasizing that governing often requires unpopular but necessary decisions.
Despite the criticism, he remains resolute, stating, “It’s much better to be in power, making changes, than in opposition, unable to act.
