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| EU referendum petition signed by more than 2.5m | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| More than 2.5 million people have signed a petition calling for a second EU referendum, after the vote to leave. | |
| It has more signatures than any other on the parliamentary website and as it has passed 100,000, Parliament will consider it for a debate. | It has more signatures than any other on the parliamentary website and as it has passed 100,000, Parliament will consider it for a debate. |
| The UK voted to leave the EU by 52% to 48% in Thursday's referendum but the majority of voters in London, Scotland and Northern Ireland backed Remain. | The UK voted to leave the EU by 52% to 48% in Thursday's referendum but the majority of voters in London, Scotland and Northern Ireland backed Remain. |
| David Cameron has previously said there will be no second referendum. | David Cameron has previously said there will be no second referendum. |
| On Friday he said he would stand down as prime minister by October following the leave result. | On Friday he said he would stand down as prime minister by October following the leave result. |
| A House of Commons spokeswoman said the petition was created on 24 May. There were 22 signatures on it at the time the referendum result was announced. | A House of Commons spokeswoman said the petition was created on 24 May. There were 22 signatures on it at the time the referendum result was announced. |
| She said the petition site had temporarily gone down at one point following "exceptionally high volumes of simultaneous users on a single petition, significantly higher than on any previous occasion". | She said the petition site had temporarily gone down at one point following "exceptionally high volumes of simultaneous users on a single petition, significantly higher than on any previous occasion". |
| Raise profile | Raise profile |
| The petition's website states it was set up by an individual called William Oliver Healey, and says: "We the undersigned call upon HM Government to implement a rule that if the Remain or Leave vote is less than 60%, based on a turnout less than 75%, there should be another referendum." | The petition's website states it was set up by an individual called William Oliver Healey, and says: "We the undersigned call upon HM Government to implement a rule that if the Remain or Leave vote is less than 60%, based on a turnout less than 75%, there should be another referendum." |
| A report in the Daily Express said he had created the petition | |
| Thursday saw a 72.2% turnout, significantly higher than the 66.1% turnout at last year's general election, but below the 75% mark suggested by Mr Healey as a threshold. | Thursday saw a 72.2% turnout, significantly higher than the 66.1% turnout at last year's general election, but below the 75% mark suggested by Mr Healey as a threshold. |
| The Scottish independence referendum in 2014 had a turnout of 84.6% - but there has not been a turnout above 75% at any general election since 1992. | The Scottish independence referendum in 2014 had a turnout of 84.6% - but there has not been a turnout above 75% at any general election since 1992. |
| A debate in Parliament is a good way to raise the profile of an issue with law makers but it does not automatically follow that there will be a change in the law. | A debate in Parliament is a good way to raise the profile of an issue with law makers but it does not automatically follow that there will be a change in the law. |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| By Iain Watson, political correspondent | By Iain Watson, political correspondent |
| The fact that more than one and a half million people have signed a petition calling for a second EU referendum has attracted a lot of attention - but it has zero chance of being enacted. | The fact that more than one and a half million people have signed a petition calling for a second EU referendum has attracted a lot of attention - but it has zero chance of being enacted. |
| The main reason is that it is asking for retrospective legislation. It suggests another referendum is required because the winning side got less than 60% of the vote, and there was less than a 75% turnout. | The main reason is that it is asking for retrospective legislation. It suggests another referendum is required because the winning side got less than 60% of the vote, and there was less than a 75% turnout. |
| You can have thresholds in referendums. | You can have thresholds in referendums. |
| The 1979 referendum to set up a Scottish parliament failed because a clause was inserted in to the legislation requiring more than 40% of all eligible voters - not just those taking part - to agree to devolution before it took place. | The 1979 referendum to set up a Scottish parliament failed because a clause was inserted in to the legislation requiring more than 40% of all eligible voters - not just those taking part - to agree to devolution before it took place. |
| But that clause came in advance - everyone was clear about the rules. You can't simply invent new hurdles if you are on the losing side. | But that clause came in advance - everyone was clear about the rules. You can't simply invent new hurdles if you are on the losing side. |
| The other reason is that if a petition gets more than 100,000 signatures it can then - with the agreement of a committee of MPs - be debated in Parliament, but there is no legal obligation to act on it. | The other reason is that if a petition gets more than 100,000 signatures it can then - with the agreement of a committee of MPs - be debated in Parliament, but there is no legal obligation to act on it. |
| However, there is talk around Westminster- in the wake of a plunging currency and falling share prices - of whether any deal on Brexit negotiated with the EU should then be put to a referendum further down the line. | However, there is talk around Westminster- in the wake of a plunging currency and falling share prices - of whether any deal on Brexit negotiated with the EU should then be put to a referendum further down the line. |
| The UK will remain an EU member for the next two years at least - so it's not over until it's over. | The UK will remain an EU member for the next two years at least - so it's not over until it's over. |
| Some would greet this with horror and cries of 'foul' - others with relief. | Some would greet this with horror and cries of 'foul' - others with relief. |
| UKIP leader Nigel Farage, who has campaigned for the UK to leave the EU throughout his political career, said in May that a narrow win for Remain could cause unstoppable demand for a rerun of the referendum. | UKIP leader Nigel Farage, who has campaigned for the UK to leave the EU throughout his political career, said in May that a narrow win for Remain could cause unstoppable demand for a rerun of the referendum. |
| He said at the time that a result that saw Remain win by 52% to 48% would mean "unfinished business by a long way". | He said at the time that a result that saw Remain win by 52% to 48% would mean "unfinished business by a long way". |
| But Mr Cameron has said the referendum was a "once in a generation, once in a lifetime" decision, saying the UK had "referendums not neverendums". | But Mr Cameron has said the referendum was a "once in a generation, once in a lifetime" decision, saying the UK had "referendums not neverendums". |
| Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has also rejected the idea of a second referendum, saying: "We have got to accept that decision." | Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has also rejected the idea of a second referendum, saying: "We have got to accept that decision." |
| Labour MP for Tottenham David Lammy later tweeted that people could "stop this madness through a vote in Parliament". | Labour MP for Tottenham David Lammy later tweeted that people could "stop this madness through a vote in Parliament". |
| He said there should be a vote in the Commons next week on whether the UK goes forward with Brexit. | He said there should be a vote in the Commons next week on whether the UK goes forward with Brexit. |
| 'Make divorce official' | 'Make divorce official' |
| The parliamentary petitions system is overseen by the Petitions Committee, which considers whether petitions that receive more than 100,000 signatures should be raised in the House of Commons and debated. | The parliamentary petitions system is overseen by the Petitions Committee, which considers whether petitions that receive more than 100,000 signatures should be raised in the House of Commons and debated. |
| The committee is due to sit again on Tuesday. | The committee is due to sit again on Tuesday. |
| In a separate petition more than 100,000 people have called on London Mayor Sadiq Khan to declare the English capital independent from the UK and apply to join the EU. | In a separate petition more than 100,000 people have called on London Mayor Sadiq Khan to declare the English capital independent from the UK and apply to join the EU. |
| Across all 33 boroughs in London 59.9% of people voted to stay in the EU, with the Remain vote more than 70% in some boroughs. | Across all 33 boroughs in London 59.9% of people voted to stay in the EU, with the Remain vote more than 70% in some boroughs. |
| The page, set up by James O'Malley, states: "London is an international city, and we want to remain at the heart of Europe. Let's face it - the rest of the country disagrees... let's make the divorce official and move in with our friends on the continent." | The page, set up by James O'Malley, states: "London is an international city, and we want to remain at the heart of Europe. Let's face it - the rest of the country disagrees... let's make the divorce official and move in with our friends on the continent." |
| Mr Khan has said he has no doubt London will "continue to be the successful city" but called for the UK to remain part of the single market. | Mr Khan has said he has no doubt London will "continue to be the successful city" but called for the UK to remain part of the single market. |
| Former London Mayor Boris Johnson, one of the leading Leave campaigners and the bookmakers' odds-on favourite to succeed Mr Cameron, has insisted the UK is not "turning its back" on Europe. | Former London Mayor Boris Johnson, one of the leading Leave campaigners and the bookmakers' odds-on favourite to succeed Mr Cameron, has insisted the UK is not "turning its back" on Europe. |
| He said the decision would not make the UK any less tolerant or outward looking and would not reduce opportunities for young people. | He said the decision would not make the UK any less tolerant or outward looking and would not reduce opportunities for young people. |