{"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/762547.json"},"data":{"type":"petition","id":762547,"attributes":{"action":"License and regulate business sale brokers to protect business owners","background":"We ask the Government to introduce statutory regulation of business sale brokers through compulsory licensing, a published code of ethics, mandatory disclosure of fees and success rates, and enforceable complaints and disciplinary procedures to protect business owners.","additional_details":"For many owners, selling a business represents their largest financial event and life’s work. Yet the sector remains largely unregulated, with no mandatory qualifications, performance transparency or statutory oversight. This creates risk of misrepresentation, hidden fees and poor conduct. Regulation would improve accountability, market integrity and confidence in business transactions.","committee_note":"","state":"open","signature_count":19,"created_at":"2026-02-26T09:34:42.137Z","updated_at":"2026-04-04T21:37:00.000Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2026-03-27T13:19:33.455Z","closed_at":null,"moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2026-02-26T15:37:40.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":null,"government_response_at":null,"debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"creator_name":"James Gerald Lamb","rejection":null,"government_response":null,"debate":null,"departments":[{"acronym":"BT","name":"Department for Business and Trade","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-business-and-trade"}],"topics":[],"signatures_by_country":[{"name":"United Kingdom","code":"GB","signature_count":19}],"signatures_by_constituency":[{"name":"Basingstoke","ons_code":"E14001078","mp":"Luke Murphy MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Bicester and Woodstock","ons_code":"E14001090","mp":"Calum Miller MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Chelsea and Fulham","ons_code":"E14001160","mp":"Ben Coleman MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Droitwich and Evesham","ons_code":"E14001203","mp":"Nigel Huddleston MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"East Hampshire","ons_code":"E14001214","mp":"Rt Hon Damian Hinds MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"East Wiltshire","ons_code":"E14001217","mp":"Danny Kruger MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Esher and Walton","ons_code":"E14001230","mp":"Monica Harding MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Guildford","ons_code":"E14001258","mp":"Zöe Franklin MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Harpenden and Berkhamsted","ons_code":"E14001268","mp":"Victoria Collins MP","signature_count":2},{"name":"Hyndburn","ons_code":"E14001299","mp":"Sarah Smith MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Meriden and Solihull East","ons_code":"E14001358","mp":"Saqib Bhatti MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Mid Buckinghamshire","ons_code":"E14001360","mp":"Greg Smith MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Newton Abbot","ons_code":"E14001381","mp":"Martin Wrigley MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Rochester and Strood","ons_code":"E14001447","mp":"Lauren Edwards MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Stretford and Urmston","ons_code":"E14001528","mp":"Andrew Western MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Vauxhall and Camberwell Green","ons_code":"E14001559","mp":"Florence Eshalomi MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Widnes and Halewood","ons_code":"E14001584","mp":"Derek Twigg MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber","ons_code":"S14000067","mp":"Brendan O'Hara MP","signature_count":1}],"signatures_by_region":[{"name":"North West","ons_code":"B","signature_count":3},{"name":"West Midlands","ons_code":"F","signature_count":2},{"name":"East of England","ons_code":"G","signature_count":2},{"name":"London","ons_code":"H","signature_count":2},{"name":"South East","ons_code":"J","signature_count":7},{"name":"South West","ons_code":"K","signature_count":2},{"name":"Scotland","ons_code":"M","signature_count":1}],"other_parliamentary_business":[]}}}