{"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/777850.json"},"data":{"type":"petition","id":777850,"attributes":{"action":"Mandate that Previous Employers Provide References for Ofsted-Regulated Roles","background":"Require employers to provide factual references for former employees applying for Ofsted-regulated roles. Ban employers from withholding references as retaliation or unfairly blocking access to future employment.","additional_details":"Many employers require references for Ofsted-regulated roles. Some former employers refuse to provide them, unfairly preventing suitable people from finding work. We believe the law should require employers to provide a fair, factual reference.","committee_note":"","state":"open","signature_count":27,"closing_date":"2027-03-14","created_at":"2026-07-22T13:16:12.592Z","updated_at":"2026-09-14T16:45:00.000Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2026-09-14T08:48:15.146Z","closed_at":null,"moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2026-07-22T13:46:40.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":null,"government_response_at":null,"debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"creator_name":"Mumtaz Rafiq","rejection":null,"government_response":null,"debate":null,"departments":[{"acronym":"DfE","name":"Department for Education","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education"}],"topics":[],"signatures_by_country":[{"name":"United Kingdom","code":"GB","signature_count":27}],"signatures_by_constituency":[{"name":"Blackburn","ons_code":"E14001102","mp":"Mr Adnan Hussain MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Blackley and Middleton South","ons_code":"E14001103","mp":"Graham Stringer MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Bury South","ons_code":"E14001145","mp":"Christian Wakeford MP","signature_count":2},{"name":"Liverpool Riverside","ons_code":"E14001338","mp":"Kim Johnson MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Manchester Central","ons_code":"E14001352","mp":"Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP","signature_count":10},{"name":"Manchester Rusholme","ons_code":"E14001353","mp":"Afzal Khan MP","signature_count":3},{"name":"North West Leicestershire","ons_code":"E14001404","mp":"Amanda Hack MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Peckham","ons_code":"E14001421","mp":"Rt Hon Miatta Fahnbulleh MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Pendle and Clitheroe","ons_code":"E14001422","mp":"Jonathan Hinder MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"St Helens South and Whiston","ons_code":"E14001510","mp":"Ms Marie Rimmer MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Stretford and Urmston","ons_code":"E14001528","mp":"Andrew Western MP","signature_count":2},{"name":"The Wrekin","ons_code":"E14001543","mp":"Rt Hon Mark Pritchard MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Airdrie and Shotts","ons_code":"S14000063","mp":"Kenneth Stevenson MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Glasgow South","ons_code":"S14000087","mp":"Gordon McKee MP","signature_count":1}],"signatures_by_region":[{"name":"North West","ons_code":"B","signature_count":22},{"name":"East Midlands","ons_code":"E","signature_count":1},{"name":"West Midlands","ons_code":"F","signature_count":1},{"name":"London","ons_code":"H","signature_count":1},{"name":"Scotland","ons_code":"M","signature_count":2}],"other_parliamentary_business":[]}}}