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Brexit: Petition for second EU referendum rejected Brexit: Petition for second EU referendum rejected
(35 minutes later)
The government has rejected a petition signed by more than 2.5 million people calling for a second EU referendum. The government has rejected a petition signed by more than 4.1 million people calling for a second EU referendum.
An email to those who signed the petition said the prime minister and government had "been clear that this was a once in a generation vote".An email to those who signed the petition said the prime minister and government had "been clear that this was a once in a generation vote".
It said the decision "must be respected", adding: "We must now prepare for the process to exit the EU".It said the decision "must be respected", adding: "We must now prepare for the process to exit the EU".
The UK voted to leave the EU by 52% to 48% in last month's referendum.The UK voted to leave the EU by 52% to 48% in last month's referendum.
The petition gained more signatures than any other on the parliamentary website in the wake of the vote on 23 June.The petition gained more signatures than any other on the parliamentary website in the wake of the vote on 23 June.
The petition's website stated it was set up by an individual called William Oliver Healey, and said: "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." It stated it was set up by William Oliver Healey and called for the government to hold a second referendum because less than 60% of the vote was in favour of Brexit and the turnout was below 75%.
In its response to signatories, the government said: "The European Union Referendum Act received Royal Assent in December 2015, receiving overwhelming support from Parliament. The Act did not set a threshold for the result or for minimum turnout." In its official response to signatories, the Foreign Office said the law which set the rules for the referendum did not specify minimum conditions on turnout or margin of victory.
'Press the government''Press the government'
It added that the referendum was "one of the biggest democratic exercises in British history with over 33 million people having their say".It added that the referendum was "one of the biggest democratic exercises in British history with over 33 million people having their say".
The email said the petition would be considered for a debate by the Petitions Committee because it had received more than 100,000 signatures.The email said the petition would be considered for a debate by the Petitions Committee because it had received more than 100,000 signatures.
The committee is made up of 11 cross-party MPs and "almost always" debates petitions which reach 100,000 signatures.The committee is made up of 11 cross-party MPs and "almost always" debates petitions which reach 100,000 signatures.
It previously investigated the petition for fraud, removing 77,000 signatures which were found to be false.It previously investigated the petition for fraud, removing 77,000 signatures which were found to be false.
The referendum saw 17.4 million (51.9%) votes cast to leave the EU, compared with 16.1 million (48.1%) for remain, with a turnout of 72.2%, according to the Electoral Commission.