Keir Starmer won’t consider debating another General Election because he is “scared”, according to the man behind a popular petition calling for one.
But Starmer, who has faced a tricky opening few months as prime minister, has ruled out giving such a proposal any thought – telling ITV “that’s isn’t how our system works”.
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Speaking on GB News, Michael Westwood hit out at the Labour Government which has introduced a raft of unpopular policies like slashing winter fuel payments for thousands of pensioners and making inheritance tax changes for farmers.
Westwood says people feel ‘betrayed’ by Labour
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“I have never got involved in politics whatsoever and I have never done a petition in my life”, he told Tom Harwood and Miriam Cates.
“I just got sick of the lies I was hearing from Labour. I thought, ‘okay, how do we express ourselves in the correct manner?’
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Keir Starmer is the Prime Minister PA“I just put this online and I hoped people would pick up on it, and it’s gone better than I expected.”
Westwood told GB News that he made little effort in publicising the petition initially – opting just to share it via WhatsApp with family and friends.
But since, the number of signatures have ballooned, putting Westwood in the spotlight.
“I said if we got 1,000 signatures, I would be chuffed”, he said.
Michael Westwood told Tom and Miriam he did not expect the petition to grow in popularity to such an extent
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“Elon Musk has tweeted it along with other people in the UK. I think people feel betrayed by Labour.”
As the petition has reached the 100,000 signature threshold, Parliament has to consider the proposal for a debate.
But Westwood is not expecting this to happen – telling Tom and Miriam he thinks the PM is “scared” about such a proposal.
“If I was invited, I would love to go and watch the debate, but I don’t think they will”, he said.
“Truthfully, I don’t think they will debate it because I think they are scared of what people have to say.”
As he marks five months as Prime Minister, Sir Keir acknowledged the job has been difficult, but added: “I wouldn’t swap a single day in opposition for a day in power.
“It’s much better to be in power to do things, rather than the frustration, as I found it, in opposition for all of those long years where we were just able to say what we would do.”
The petition calling for another general election is open for signatures until May 2025.
While the vast majority of those signing it are from the UK, it has also gained support from other countries.
More than 1,200 people from the US have added their name to it, with similar a number from France doing the same.