Keir Starmer has dismissed a petition demanding a new general election, even as the number of signatures exceeded 2 million.
The Prime Minister acknowledged that his popularity has dropped due to several decisions made by the Labour government since taking office nearly five months ago.
Petition calls for another general election
The petition, posted on the UK Parliament’s website, reads: “I would like there to be another general election. I believe the current Labour government has gone back on the promises they laid out during the lead-up to the last election.”
In response, a Labour source told HuffPost UK: “This government was elected just a few months ago with a strong mandate to deliver change. The sooner those who lost accept that, the better.”
Starmer responds to the petition
Speaking on ITV’s This Morning, Starmer was informed by presenter Andy Peters that over 2 million people had now signed the petition, which was launched just two days earlier.
However, Starmer remained unfazed. “I remind myself that many people didn’t vote Labour in the last election, and I’m not surprised that many of them want a rerun,” he said.
He added: “That’s not how our system works. Many people didn’t want us in power in the first place, so I focus on the decisions I need to make every day.”
Starmer responds to critics
Peters then pointed out that Starmer’s approval ratings were lower than Nigel Farage’s. “You want the public to trust you and think, ‘He’s the man for the job,’ but your approval ratings are lower than Nigel Farage’s right now. Even saying that to the Prime Minister is disappointing.”
Starmer defended his position, saying: “If you make the difficult decisions first, then people might not like them. But in the long term, I believe people will see the benefits.”
He compared the government’s approach to turning around a business or even renovating a house: “You can give it a quick lick of paint, or you can fix the foundations. We’re making the big calls on the NHS and schools, which are crucial for both the present and the future.”
Starmer’s view on tough decisions
Starmer acknowledged that people may not always appreciate the difficult decisions the government is making. “I’m not surprised that, as we tackle these tough issues, many people feel impacted. But we need to make the hard choices, particularly on healthcare and education, which are essential for the future.”
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