Direct Democracy

Launch a Petition

Turn individual frustration into collective action. When enough people speak up, the Government has to listen.

Know Your Forum

UK Parliament Petitions

For national issues (taxes, foreign policy, huge infrastructure). These go directly to the Government and Parliament.

10,000 signatures = Government response
100,000 signatures = Considered for debate in Parliament

Local Council Petitions

For specific local issues (saving a library, fixing a dangerous junction). These go to your local authority via their own website (e.g., Change.org is rarely effective for formal council processes).

Often much lower thresholds (e.g., 500 signatures)
Can force a full council debate

Why Do Petitions Fail?

Vague wording. "Make things better" is impossible to enact. "Introduce a 20mph limit on High Street" is specific and actionable.

The "Snowball" Effect

You need momentum early. Before you launch publicly:

Get 10 friends to sign immediately.
Identify Facebook groups where the issue is already hot.
Draft an email to local press with the petition link ready.

Paper vs Digital

Online is easier for sharing, but paper petitions (with names and addresses) at local shops or community centres are harder for people to ignore. You can often combine them, but check the specific rules of the body you are petitioning.

The First 24 Hours

Petitions that don't get 100 signatures in the first 24 hours usually die.
Do not launch until you have lined up your "core team" to sign and share immediately. The algorithm favours momentum.

The Winning Petition Formula

Don't waste months on a petition that gets ignored.

Clear Ask: 'Improve the park' (Fail). 'Install 3 new benches and repair the swings in X Park' (Win).
Target Audience: Is this for the Council (local) or Parliament (national)? Don't mix them up.
Photo Evidence: A petition with a photo of the problem gets 3x more clicks.
Data: 'It's dangerous' vs 'There were 3 accidents in 2023'. Use facts.
The First 10: Get 10 signatures (family/friends) *before* posting on Facebook. Nobody signs an empty list.
Local Press: Email the local paper *with* the petition link once you hit 100 signatures.
Deadline: Set a realistic end date (e.g., 1 month) to create urgency.

Start UK Parliament Petition Find My Local Council

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