Petition · past parliament

60% of elected MPs are from a working class background by the 2020 election

Rejected 18 signatures

What the petition asks

By 2020 let's ensure that at least 60% of MPs elected into the House of Commons are from a working class background. Parliament that's dominated by those who went to private schools are unrepresentative of the majority of the British people and aren't a good voice for the public.

Why it was rejected

It asked for something that is not the responsibility of the UK Government or Parliament.

Candidates in a general election are selected by political parties, or stand as independents. The results of the election are of course the responsibility of the electorate in each constituency. This is therefore not something that the Government or Parliament could do.

You could start a new petition asking for action on something that the Government or Parliament is responsible for - for example, you could ask for funding for initiatives to encourage more people from a working class background to stand as parliamentary candidates.

Timeline

30 Jan 2016 Petition opened for signatures
1 Feb 2016 Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 18
Status Rejected
Rejected 1 Feb 2016

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.