By-elections to be called automatically when MPs defect to another party
- Parliament:
- 2024–present
- Signatures:
- 129,335
- Responded:
- 9 Feb 2026
- Department:
- Cabinet Office
The petition
When an MP decides they want to defect to another party a by-election should be automatically triggered to allow the constituents the opportunity have their democratic right to agree or not with their elected official.
Regardless of political views I believe you vote for both the individual candidates and their stance on issues and the more general direction and policies of the party they stand for. When an MP decides that they no longer wish to be a member of the party they stood for when you voted for them the electorate should have the opportunity to also change their mind by voting in a by-election.
The government's response
There are no plans to make changes to the current constitutional arrangements, whereby voters elect individual candidates, and not the political party they represent.
It is an established constitutional principle that at UK General Elections, voters cast their vote for individual candidates, and not the political party they represent.
When a Member of Parliament (MP) decides to change their party affiliation, it is for the MP to decide whether to continue to sit in the House of Commons (as a representative of their new political party or as an independent MP) or to stand down from their seat to trigger a by-election and, if they wish, seek re-election.
There are no plans to make changes to the current arrangements.
Cabinet Office
Debate
Debated in Parliament on 16 Mar 2026. This is shown for context and is not part of the assessment.
Of 5 MPs who spoke in their own right, 3 were for the petition, 0 neutral and 2 against. The government's response: declines.
- For
- Neutral
- Against
Show as a table
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