{"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/741114.json"},"data":{"type":"petition","id":741114,"attributes":{"action":"Legislate that a by-election must be held when a representative changes parties.","background":"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.","additional_details":"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.","committee_note":null,"state":"rejected","signature_count":13,"created_at":"2025-09-15T12:25:12.249Z","updated_at":"2025-09-30T16:13:32.993Z","rejected_at":"2025-09-30T16:13:31.333Z","opened_at":null,"closed_at":null,"moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2025-09-16T07:26:50.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":null,"government_response_at":null,"debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"creator_name":null,"rejection":{"code":"duplicate","details":"You may wish to sign this petition which calls for the a similar action: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/737660"},"government_response":null,"debate":null,"departments":[],"topics":[]}}}