Petition · past parliament · Cabinet Office

No new lockdowns longer than 3 weeks without a referendum

Closed 76 signatures

What the petition asks

If the Government wants to close businesses and/or implement stay-at-home orders for more than 3 weeks in any 6 month period, they must get consent through a referendum. In an emergency, a 3-week lockdown period should be enough time for the issue to be debated and a referendum to be held.
There is no policy more extreme than making it a criminal offence, with the threat of police action, for people to leave their homes or open their businesses.
If we believe in democracy, then lockdown policies should be the first to be settled by referendum. No other policy is more important and more needing of public consent.
Should health come before democracy? This is a false question, we cannot properly determine what is in the best interest of health, without democracy.

Timeline

20 May 2021 Petition opened for signatures
20 Nov 2021 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 76
Status Closed
Department Cabinet Office
Opened 20 May 2021
Closed 20 Nov 2021

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