{"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/741180.json"},"data":{"type":"petition","id":741180,"attributes":{"action":"If an MP defects to another party, a by-election should be called immediately.","background":"A new law should be introduced to ensure constituents, voting for a candidate who represents their chosen party defects, there should be a by-election to confirm the constituency still want representation from this individual.","additional_details":"Very often constituents vote according to party preferences and may indeed vote tactically to ensure certain parties do not win a seat. It is therefore incongruent for an MP to decide to change allegiance without support from her / his constituents. A by-election should be called immediately.","committee_note":null,"state":"rejected","signature_count":10,"created_at":"2025-09-15T20:14:22.296Z","updated_at":"2025-09-29T12:04:07.033Z","rejected_at":"2025-09-29T12:04:00.469Z","opened_at":null,"closed_at":null,"moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2025-09-15T21:23:00.000Z","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 the following petition, which calls for similar action:\r\n\r\nBy-elections to be called automatically when MPs defect to another party\r\nhttps://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/737660"},"government_response":null,"debate":null,"departments":[],"topics":[]}}}