Shoppers in Lincoln dismiss viral petition’s call for fresh election - but hope that online backlash can be a warning to Prime Minister Keir Starmer

Shoppers in Lincoln have shared their views on the prospect of another General Election after a viral online petition gathered more than two million signatures in support of a fresh ballot.

The petition, launched over the weekend by Michael Westwood, argues that UK voters should be given another chance to vote, despite Labour securing a landslide victory just over four months ago — arguing that the party has broken its promises.

Lincoln was among the constituencies that shifted from Conservative to Labour, with Hamish Falconer replacing Karl McCartney as MP. Mr Falconer was subsequently appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Middle East, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer quickly ruled out the idea of another election, commenting that he was "not surprised" some people who did not support his party might want a second poll.

However, Steve Catney, while shopping at Lincoln's Carlton Centre, expressed doubts about whether a change of government would make a significant difference.

"While we can have another election, it's just a matter of kicking the can down the road," he said. "We need a different sort of politics where both sides work together to change things.

"But hopefully, this petition being debated will be a shot across the bows, so they have a think about what they're doing and do a bit of due diligence."

Steve later pointed out that Labour's plan to invest £1.57 billion into the NHS was particularly flawed and insisted that money needed giving to GPs.

"It doesn't need an election to do that; it just means being a bit more sensible."

Joe Callahan also opposed the idea of another General Election so soon, commenting: "We've just had one, and I assume that the type of people already calling for a General Election are the same people who don’t want another referendum on Brexit.

"It was the will of the people, and we live in a democracy. Surely, we don’t want to overturn a democracy?

"I would assume these are people with short-term memories who don’t remember the last 14 years."

One woman, who wished to remain anonymous, felt it was too soon for another election and suggested it should wait until after Christmas, despite her dissatisfaction with plans to scrap the winter fuel allowance for all but the most financially vulnerable pensioners.

"[We should] wait until after Christmas and wait to see if they come up with any other plans, see what they have," she said.

Meanwhile, fellow shopper Mike was unconvinced that the current administration would hold another election without significant pushback.

"There is no way they would give in to a General Election without an enormous public outcry," he said. "I just blame all these silly so-and-sos that voted them in the first place."

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