Petition · past parliament · Cabinet Office

Enshrine the Union in law to make it impossible for any region to secede.

Rejected 16 signatures

What the petition asks

An Act of Parliament to cement the Union so that no one part can agitate for separation.
Scotland is suffering from the uncertainty created by the SNPs continued agitation for independence. The SNP are failing Scotland, they refuse to work in a collaborative manner with the UK Government. Vital investment in Scotland is simply not happening as industries are unwilling to base themselves in Scotland. The SNP have minority support and have damaged Scotland’s public services. They have created instability to the detriment of Scotland. This uncertainty needs to be stopped and the only way to do this is to make secession unlawful and enshrine the Union in a new Act of Parliament.

Why it was rejected

It was not clear what the petition asked the UK Government or Parliament to do.

The union of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is already provided for by law, and the session of any part of the UK could only be achieved through primary legislation.

It is not possible for Parliament to bind its successors, so it would not be possible for the Government to pass legislation which would prevent future legislation enabling the secession of part of the UK.

Timeline

23 Jul 2020 Petition opened for signatures
3 Aug 2020 Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 16
Status Rejected
Department Cabinet Office
Rejected 3 Aug 2020

Follow this petition

Sign in to get an email when the government responds, a debate is scheduled or held, or the petition closes.

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