Ipswich MP Jack Abbott rejects new general election petition

Some 3,779 people in Ipswich -  3.2% of Jack Abbott's constituents - have put their names to the petition which has now been signed by 2.8million people across the country as it has gone viral.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said he is "not surprised" that some people want another poll called but insisted there would be no re-run.

Mr Abbott, who replaced Conservative Tom Hunt as the town's MP after July's general election, said that he has been working hard for his constituents and that voters would have their say in five years’ time.

He said: “In July, nearly 20,000 people in Ipswich made their voices heard by voting for a new Labour government, which is now fixing the foundations of our country after 14 years of Conservative damage.

“After being elected as the MP for Ipswich, I got to work instantly, and in just four months, I have delivered major progress on the building safety crisis, signed a groundbreaking jobs agreement with Sizewell C for our town, and received funding to drive up school attendance.

"That is in addition to supporting major governmental changes that will make a positive difference to thousands of people in our town.

“Of course, the electorate will have the chance to assess my performance as an MP at the next general election in five years' time, but for now, I will keep delivering for people in Ipswich.”

Since the previous Conservative government repealed the 2011 Fixed-term Parliaments Act in 2022, the Prime Minister has to power to call a general election when they want a reversion to the pre-2011 situation.

Boris Johnson’s government repealed the Fixed-term Parliaments Act in 2022 (Image: Archant) Therefore, the only realistic way for those opposed to Sir Keir's government to force a general election before he wishes to call one would be for opposition parties to win a vote of no confidence.

The last time a government lost a vote of no confidence was in March 1979 when Labour PM James Callaghan was defeated 311-310 after in a vote proposed by Conservative leader of the opposition Margaret Thatcher.

James Callaghan was the last PM to lose a vote of no confidence (Image: PA Archive/PA Images) Given that Labour has a majority of 174 it is very unlikely that any no confidence motion would succeed as this would involve large numbers of Labour MPs voting for an opposition-led motion.