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

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.

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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.

This petition was rejected

Why was this petition rejected?

There’s already a petition about this issue. We cannot accept a new petition when we already have one about a very similar issue.

You are more likely to get action on this issue if you sign and share a single petition.

You may wish to sign this petition which calls for the a similar action: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/737660

We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards.

Date submitted 15 September 2025
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