27 Apr 2009
An online petition calling for prime minister Gordon Brown to resign has attracted more than 60,000 signatures, and is by far the most popular e-petition on the Number 10 web site.
The Number 10 web site is increasingly used by public administrators as a means to gauge public opinion. Brown himself has previously backed the use of e-petitions as a formal means of involving the public in the work of parliament.
In a green paper on constitutional reform published in 2007, Brown highlighted the 10 Downing Street web site e-petition system, which at the time had processed 22,300 petitions of which 7,500 were live with more than 4.4 million signatures.
‘I encourage this House to agree a new process for ensuring consideration of petitions from members of the public,’ said Brown in a statement to MPs at the time.
The consultation paper added: ‘The government believes that people should be able to petition the House of Commons with as much ease as they are currently able to petition the prime minister, and that there should be a procedure for handling petitions which considers whether each merits a debate in parliament.’
Brown was believed to favour a threshold for the number of signatories above which a debate will be mandatory.
Deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman last year formally told the Commons procedure committee that the government welcomed outline proposals for an e-petitions system that would "help to make a major contribution to making the House more accessible to the public".
In March this year, Brown also outlined plans to allow citizens to rate the services of GPs, police, childcare and councils online, in eBay-style feedback systems.
And a web-based public consultation on upcoming legislation for the year ahead launched in May last year. The feedback form, available at www.commonsleader. gov.uk/draftprogramme will allow the public to advise MPs of their opinion on all drafted legislation.
However it seems unlikely that the latest show of online public opinion will lead to action on Brown’s behalf.
The New Moron Party let us use these petitions but only accept those which they like.The resignation petition will no doubt be "lost" never to be seen again.The government is corrupt so why expect anything other than corruption.As for Brown, had I messed up so badly at work as him I would have been shown the door.Do the decent thing and leave of your own accord.
Posted by: Terry 03 Aug 2009
Gordon might not have Mr. Blair's charm, but only he has the brains. After all, it was him as chancellor that gave us many years of economic growth and the lowest unemployment figures for many many years. Now only he has the understanding and ideas to see us through the global problems of the credit crunch. Lets face it Cameron and Osborne have absolutely nothing to offer us. Two public school boys who have never done a decent days work in their lives. Whatever you say about Browns leadership, we should consider where we would be if we had an election, and these Conservatives won power.
Posted by: oddjob 09 Jun 2009
I have simple politics, all governments in the UK like to think up ways to extort money from the British public. In light of the expenses fiasco, we can count on all MPs to send us down the river, claim what they can in the grey area, and then leave us all to pay for their mistakes.
Posted by: Mark Ditchburn 28 May 2009
It can't be any coincidence that the petition calling for Brown to resign is pretty difficult to find now - you really have to search for it!
So typical of NuNazi - they pretend to be democratic and transparent, but sneakily censor things they do not want you to see.
Posted by: Zoompad 18 May 2009
If I could, I'd push off out of this country...as you and your lot have sold us down the river in every way possible!
All without OUR permission.
But why should I GO. This is My Country...YOU GO. So I'M STAYING..as I said..you Greedy Lot are HISTORY. And for anyone who follows..WE will all be WATCHING YOU!
Posted by: SHEILA WALLER 09 May 2009
Gordon Brown. Didn't have the courage to go to the people. Became the PM without an election or a mandate. Considered an election later then backed away when he realised he would lose. Blatantly lied to the British people when he promised a referendum on the EU. Changed his mind when he knew it wouldn't go his way. Leads a party of MPs whose only interest seems to be swindling the taxpayers.
I always understood that MP should really stand for man of principle. Not in your case Mr Brown.
No competence, no morals, no principles. For God's sake GO!
Posted by: Barrie Baker 09 May 2009
For the crimes against my country. If i had my my way you would be hung for treason. You have no morals. Give us an election and let us, the people, tell you what we think. We now have an open door policy to anyone and everyone and yet you will not serve people who have risked their lives and fought for this country. You are shameless
Posted by: paul whopples 30 Apr 2009
It's now up to 35,000 votes!
If this carries on to hundreds of thousands I think it's going to be extremely embarrassing for the PM.
I predict that the plug will be pulled on the petition (the loss in mandate and authority for the PM that will occur if it hits millions in number will be great). "Oops, the system has crashed and we can't restore THAT particular petition".
The Tories will be able to seize on it and use it as ammunition against the PM.
This petition is going to open a large can of worms.
Of course, everybody will be crying foul if it is subjected to a convenient system crash.
Democracy at work.
Posted by: David 30 Apr 2009
Thank god someone has at last seen sense our country is in the worse state i have ever known not only should he resign but he should take his swindling MPs with him. Every year we see television ads about benefit fraud What about MP Fraud - still tax payers cash
Posted by: SUSAN POWELL 28 Apr 2009
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