Liz Truss turmoil: Over 4,000 Wirral residents sign petition calling for general election after mini-budget blunder

The economic turmoil brought on by the Government's recent mini-budget has caused anger among many, with numerous public figures suggesting that Prime Minister Liz Truss – or even her entire cabinet – should step down in order to restore stability.

On Monday the new Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, reneged on most of the tax cuts laid out in the mini-budget in an attempt to win back critics of Ms Truss's administration.

Nevertheless, a petition on the Parliament website calling for a general election has reached more than 600,000 signatures.

Liz Truss has received mass criticism after the pound fell to the lowest rate against the dollar in 37 years and home owners face increased interest rates.

Wirral signatures

As of Monday at 3pm:

Wirral West: 996

Wirral South: 1,013

Wallasey: 1,347

Birkenhead: 1,120

What does the petition say?

The petition asks for "an immediate general election to end the chaos of the current government".

It lists the war in Ukraine, problems with the Northern Ireland protocol, looming recession and renewed calls for Scottish independence as among "the greatest set of challenges we have seen in our lifetimes".

"Let the people decide who leads us through this turmoil," the petition concludes.

The three largest opposition parties in Westminster – Labour, the Scottish National Party, and the Liberal Democrats – all called for a general election last week, in response to the economic problems brought on by the Government's September mini-budget.

Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said the Prime Minister had "trashed the British economy" and "humiliated the Conservative Government in the eyes of the world".

“People are angry, they are fed up, and they’re worried about the future, but above all, they are furious with this Conservative Party, so I think it’s time they had their say – it’s time for a general election,” he told BBC News on Friday.

Across the North West, 76,212 people had signed the petition by Monday afternoon.

What will happen?

Any petition with more than 100,000 signatures must be debated in Parliament – a threshold met by the petition at the end of September, meaning it is due to be discussed at 4.30pm on Monday, October 17.

At 632,188 signatures and counting, it is currently the most signed open petition on the Parliament website.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer also heaped scorn on Ms Truss's Government, calling the events of the last month "grotesque chaos".

He laid the blame squarely on the Conservative party for surging mortgage rates and pensions dropping in value.

In a response to the petition on September 20, the Government said: “The UK is a Parliamentary democracy and the Conservative Party remains the majority party.

“The Prime Minister has pledged to ensure opportunity and prosperity for all people and future generations.”