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The e-petitions sent to government that get rejected | The e-petitions sent to government that get rejected |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Flood the Channel Tunnel. Ban cats from going outdoors. Bring back fish and chips wrapped in newspaper. | Flood the Channel Tunnel. Ban cats from going outdoors. Bring back fish and chips wrapped in newspaper. |
These are three demands - all rejected - from users of the government's e-petitions service. | These are three demands - all rejected - from users of the government's e-petitions service. |
Petitions gaining more than 100,000 signatures can be considered for a debate in parliament. | Petitions gaining more than 100,000 signatures can be considered for a debate in parliament. |
While some petitions - like Jamie Oliver's petition to tax sugary drinks - can make it all the way into law, others aren't quite so successful. | While some petitions - like Jamie Oliver's petition to tax sugary drinks - can make it all the way into law, others aren't quite so successful. |
But what the Petitions Committee gives to Jamie Oliver, it takes away from may others, rejecting petitions that fall foul of its standards - set out in full here. | But what the Petitions Committee gives to Jamie Oliver, it takes away from may others, rejecting petitions that fall foul of its standards - set out in full here. |
Here's a quick run through some of the most common reasons petitions never make it: | Here's a quick run through some of the most common reasons petitions never make it: |
Petitions about something that the UK Government or Parliament is not responsible for: | Petitions about something that the UK Government or Parliament is not responsible for: |
Petitions that aren't clear about what they want the government to do: | Petitions that aren't clear about what they want the government to do: |
Petitions about a purely personal issue: | Petitions about a purely personal issue: |
Petitions asking for an honour or appointment: | Petitions asking for an honour or appointment: |
The Petitions Committee can't nominate someone for an honour - there's already a system in place for members of the public to nominate people directly. | The Petitions Committee can't nominate someone for an honour - there's already a system in place for members of the public to nominate people directly. |
Also rejected, a series of petitions about raccoons: | Also rejected, a series of petitions about raccoons: |
There's hope for some petitioners though - this petition calling for police horses and dogs to be given the same legal protections as their human colleagues will be debated in parliament's Westminster Hall on 14 November. | There's hope for some petitioners though - this petition calling for police horses and dogs to be given the same legal protections as their human colleagues will be debated in parliament's Westminster Hall on 14 November. |
Popular petitions | |
The most popular e-petitions ever cover some slightly less unusual subjects. | |
The petition with the most signatures - over four million of them - called on the government to hold a second EU membership referendum if either Leave or Remain were backed by less than 60% of voters and saw a turnout of less than 75%. | |
The petition, which attracted a flood of signatures after June's Brexit vote, was debated in September, but there's been no sign of another referendum. | |
Another petition that gained widespread attention was a call for parliament to ban Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump from entering the UK. | |
It was debated in January 2016. Mr Trump remains free to visit Britain. | |
Despite these petitions successfully making it into the debating chamber, one member of the public felt Parliament would be better off without having to talk about them: |
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