Legislate that a by-election must be held when a representative changes parties.

Rejected 13 signatures

What the petition asks

Whether leaving one party to join another, or winning a seat as an independent but then joining a party or vice-versa, politicians at local, regional, and national levels in England should not be permitted to do so without giving constituents the democratic right to choose party and platform again.

The Commons holds to an 18th-century convention that changing parties doesn’t force resignation and by-election on the principle that MPs are individually elected and free to develop their own agendas. Yet candidates and winners are supported, promoted, and controlled by parties/whips. Polls show citizens vote for parties &/or platforms. Those under the banner and manifesto of one party, or who promise independence but then join one, are not what was voted for. It is misleading and undemocratic.

Why it was rejected

There was already a petition about this issue. Duplicates are rejected so signatures collect in one place.

You may wish to sign this petition which calls for the a similar action: By-elections to be called automatically when MPs defect to another party

Timeline

15 Sep 2025	Petition opened for signatures
30 Sep 2025	Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 13

Status Rejected

Rejected 30 Sep 2025

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