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Top e-petition demands axing of benefits for rioters Riots: Benefits e-petition hits crucial 100,000 mark
(about 3 hours later)
The most popular e-petition on the No 10 website is one calling for convicted rioters to lose benefit payments. An e-petition calling for rioters to lose their benefits has hit 100,000 signatures and become the first to be considered for a Commons debate.
The petition arguing that those who have committed crimes should not be supported by the taxpayer had more than 90,000 signatures by 6am. It has dwarfed others on the government website, which has struggled to deal with the volume of people accessing it.
It has been so popular the website has frozen due to "a much higher level of demand than we expected". The petition has now been formally referred to a committee which will decide whether to hold a debate.
David Cameron was asked how he planned to respond to "raised expectations" that something would be done. It comes as English councils say they will seek to evict social tenants found guilty of taking part in disorder.
The e-petition, submitted by Stephen Mains, is dwarfing its closest competitors >on the e-petitions website. >The e-petitions website has been closed to address its technical problems and is due to re-open on Friday.
Its nearest rival, a bid launched by Conservative MP Robert Halfon to cut the price of petrol, had 24,000 signatures on Wednesday. But the Cabinet Office, which runs it, has confirmed the e-petition submitted by Stephen Mains, saying "convicted London rioters should loose [sic] all benefits" has reached 100,000 signatures.
It argues: "No taxpayer should have to contribute to those who have destroyed property, stolen from their community and shown a disregard for the country that provides for them." The threshold for the petition to be referred to the Commons backbench business committee, which can table debates, is 100,000.
It will be referred to the backbench business committee of MPs if it gets 100,000 signatures, which can choose to table a debate on the topic, although it does not mean any parliamentary bills will be tabled as a result. Mr Mains's petition has attracted vast numbers of signatures in just a few days. Its nearest rival, a bid launched by Conservative MP Robert Halfon to cut the price of petrol, was well behind it with 24,000 signatures on Wednesday.
It comes as councils in Manchester, Nottingham and London say they will seek to evict social housing tenants who are convicted of violence locally and the government says it will consult on extending their powers, to allow them to punish those who travelled out of the area to take part. Mr Mains's petition argues: "No taxpayer should have to contribute to those who have destroyed property, stolen from their community and shown a disregard for the country that provides for them."
Natascha Engel, the Labour MP who chairs the backbench business committee, told the prime minister on Thursday: "One of the ways in which ordinary people are trying to get their voices heard is by going onto the government's new e-petitions website and signing a petition posted two days ago, asking for rioters to have their benefits withdrawn. If the backbench committee agrees to table a Commons debate, there is no guarantee the law will be changed.
The committee's chairman, Labour MP Natascha Engel, quizzed Prime Minister David Cameron about whether action will be taken to respond to the petition.
'Raised expectations'
She told Mr Cameron: "One of the ways in which ordinary people are trying to get their voices heard is by going onto the government's new e-petitions website and signing a petition posted two days ago, asking for rioters to have their benefits withdrawn.
"How is the prime minister going to meet those raised expectations... that something will happen as a result of going onto a government sponsored website?""How is the prime minister going to meet those raised expectations... that something will happen as a result of going onto a government sponsored website?"
Mr Cameron replied that the point of the e-petitions website, set up last week, was to "empower" people to make their voices heard on various topics.Mr Cameron replied that the point of the e-petitions website, set up last week, was to "empower" people to make their voices heard on various topics.
"If it reaches a certain level of signatures it will be debated in this House whether we like it or not and I think that is an important way of empowering people.""If it reaches a certain level of signatures it will be debated in this House whether we like it or not and I think that is an important way of empowering people."
"I think there may be opportunities, possibly through the new criminal justice and sentencing legislation to make sure we are better at confiscating things from people when they commit crimes because we have got to look at all the ways we can of making sure our punishments are robust." He added: "I think there may be opportunities, possibly through the new criminal justice and sentencing legislation to make sure we are better at confiscating things from people when they commit crimes because we have got to look at all the ways we can of making sure our punishments are robust."
Technical problems It comes as councils in Manchester, Nottingham and London say they will seek to evict social housing tenants who are convicted of violence locally and the government says it will consult on extending their powers, to allow them to punish those who travelled out of the area to take part.
A Cabinet Office spokesman said Mr Mains' e-petition had been formally referred to Ms Engel's committee, adding: "The e-petition is now eligible for consideration for debate by MPs and in the meantime, the government will respond to those who have signed the e-petition. It will remain on the site, and people will be able to continue adding their signatures.
"Under the procedures previously announced, it will be for the committee to decide whether an e-petition should be proposed for debate after the Commons returns from the summer recess."
Eviction proposal
Other popular e-petitions include the campaign to retain the ban on capital punishment, signed by 20,000, which began in response to a less popular campaign to bring it back.Other popular e-petitions include the campaign to retain the ban on capital punishment, signed by 20,000, which began in response to a less popular campaign to bring it back.
The most popular of the petitions calling for the return of the death penalty has been signed by 11,000 people.The most popular of the petitions calling for the return of the death penalty has been signed by 11,000 people.
There have been "technical problems" on the site since the petition about rioters went live - a government spokesman said it could be due to the volume of people trying to get onto the site but said some people had still been able to get through.
Asked about the e-petition, a spokesperson for the Department of Work and Pensions said that, under current arrangements, "any benefit recipient who is convicted of an offence and is imprisoned, will lose their benefit entitlement".Asked about the e-petition, a spokesperson for the Department of Work and Pensions said that, under current arrangements, "any benefit recipient who is convicted of an offence and is imprisoned, will lose their benefit entitlement".
Mr Cameron, Mayor of London Boris Johnson and Deputy PM Nick Clegg have expressed sympathy with suggestions social tenants found to have been engaged in criminal activities should be evicted.Mr Cameron, Mayor of London Boris Johnson and Deputy PM Nick Clegg have expressed sympathy with suggestions social tenants found to have been engaged in criminal activities should be evicted.
But Labour MP Kevin Barron warned evicting people from social housing in one area - only to see them rehoused in another "taking that unacceptable behaviour with them" would not "solve the problems".But Labour MP Kevin Barron warned evicting people from social housing in one area - only to see them rehoused in another "taking that unacceptable behaviour with them" would not "solve the problems".
Ministers have warned MPs not to "ignore" e-petitions although Leader of the House of Commons Sir George Young has suggested the threshold for signatures to prompt a debate may be raised if it is found to be too low.Ministers have warned MPs not to "ignore" e-petitions although Leader of the House of Commons Sir George Young has suggested the threshold for signatures to prompt a debate may be raised if it is found to be too low.
Labour has said the petitions could lead to debates on "crazy ideas".Labour has said the petitions could lead to debates on "crazy ideas".
The system replaces the previous e-petitions pages on the Downing Street website, set up when Tony Blair was PM. The system replaces the previous e-petitions pages on the Downing Street website, set up when Tony Blair was PM. The most popular of these, with more than 1.8 million people in support, opposed road pricing.
The most popular of these, with more than 1.8 million people in support, opposed road pricing.
More than 70,000 backed the one-word suggestion that Gordon Brown should "resign".
And almost 50,000 signed up to the idea that TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson should become prime minister.