Require a general election if an MP elected via a by-election becomes PM
An MP elected via a by-election can become Prime Minister through an internal party contest alone. We want legislation requiring a general election within 3 months of an MP ascending to the office of PM if they were elected to the Commons in a by-election.
Signatures
7
signatures
Government response threshold (10,000) · 7/10,000
Debate threshold (100,000) · 7/100,000
- 22 JUL 2026Petition opened for signaturesCreated by Gareth Payne
Background
We believe public trust in politicians is too low to assume electing an MP means accepting whoever their party later picks as leader — especially an MP not elected in a general election.
A by-election winner can become PM via internal party vote alone, with no national level public vote of any kind. We ask Parliament to pass legislation requiring a general election within 3 months if any MP is elected via a by-election and then becomes PM. This law would not affect MPs elected in General Elections who then become PM mid-term, nor party leadership rules themselves.