By-elections to be called automatically when MPs defect to another party
When an MP decides they want to defect to another party a by-election should be automatically triggered to allow the constituents the opportunity have their democratic right to agree or not with their elected official.
Signatures
129,335
signatures
Government response threshold (10,000) · 10,000/10,000 · reached
Debate threshold (100,000) · 100,000/100,000 · reached
- 04 MAR 2026Petition closedFinal total: 129,335 signatures
- 10 FEB 2026Government respondedCabinet OfficeGovernment reply
There are no plans to make changes to the current constitutional arrangements, whereby voters elect individual candidates, and not the political party they represent.
Read full response - 22 JAN 2026100,000 signatures reachedEligible to be considered for debate
- 17 JAN 202610,000 signatures reachedEligible for a government response
- 04 SEPT 2025Petition opened for signatures
Background
Regardless of political views I believe you vote for both the individual candidates and their stance on issues and the more general direction and policies of the party they stand for. When an MP decides that they no longer wish to be a member of the party they stood for when you voted for them the electorate should have the opportunity to also change their mind by voting in a by-election.