HUNDREDS of people in Workington have signed an online petition calling for a general election, figures show.
The economic turmoil brought on by the Government's recent mini-budget has caused anger among many, with numerous public figures suggesting that Prime Minister Liz Truss – or even her entire cabinet – should step down in order to restore stability.
On Monday the new Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, reneged on most of the tax cuts laid out in the mini-budget in an attempt to win back critics of Ms Truss's administration.
Nevertheless, a petition on the Parliament website calling for a general election has reached more than 600,000 signatures – with 716 coming from people living in the Workington constituency as of 3pm on Monday.
The petition asks for "an immediate general election to end the chaos of the current government".
It lists the war in Ukraine, problems with the Northern Ireland protocol, looming recession and renewed calls for Scottish independence as among 'the greatest set of challenges we have seen in our lifetimes'.
"Let the people decide who leads us through this turmoil," the petition concludes.
The three largest opposition parties in Westminster – Labour, the Scottish National Party, and the Liberal Democrats – all called for a general election last week, in response to the economic problems brought on by the Government's September mini-budget.
Any petition with more than 100,000 signatures must be debated in Parliament – a threshold met by the petition at the end of September, meaning it is due to be discussed at 4.30pm on Monday, October 17.
At 632,188 signatures and counting, it is currently the most signed open petition on the Parliament website.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer heaped scorn on Ms Truss's Government, calling the events of the last month 'grotesque chaos'.
In a response to the petition on September 20, the Government said: "The UK is a Parliamentary democracy and the Conservative Party remains the majority party.
"The Prime Minister has pledged to ensure opportunity and prosperity for all people and future generations."
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