No petitions out of respect for the Queen

[SingularityCat]

Wtf?!

petition.parliament.uk/

"Following the sad announcement of the passing of Her late Majesty The Queen, petitioning has been paused until normal Parliamentary business resumes.

Petition closing dates will be extended to take account of this period.

Please check back for updates."

Sorry if there's already a thread on this, I looked but didn't see one. This just seems like taking it way too far! Why on earth would it be disrespectful to have a petition?! Unless there was an influx of "abolish the monarchy" or "exile Andrew" petitions. Even then, I thought we lived in a democracy and everyone was entitled to have their say..

Given it doesn't actually state that the pause is out of respect for the queen, I would assume it is for practical reasons - keeping the petition site running, dealing with queries and new petitions etc will take staff time. A giant load of government staff will be busy busy busy sorting security arrangements etc so if you can redeploy some staff for a couple of weeks they would probably be very useful.

It does't say 'out of respect for the queen'. Where did you get that from?

They're probably just too busy to deal right now.

It says until normal parliamentary business resumes.
Not out of respect to HMQ
It says it in your post.

Too busy to deal with a part of the way democracy functions in this country?

The existence of an unelected head of state is in itself a limitation on democracy. Here is another one. The official petitions site is one of the only ways in which UK citizens can propose legislative change (the other way is to filter ideas through MPs). It's shocking that this has been suspended. It doesn't typically get suspended for parliament going into recess, so it's not a 'wait until we can deal with you' sort of problem - though there's no reason to do so, since the petitions once qualifying for an answer wait anyway.

All Parliamentary business is suspended, so it’s hardly a surprise.

I can just imagine the bonkers ones we’d have right now, so it’s a slight relief.

Wow, I'm surprised noone else is bothered by this tbh. It doesn't mention it's out of respect for the Queen, you're right, I didn't notice that. But why else would it be suspended? It's not as if the people who deal with the petitions website will suddenly be drafted in to help with crowd control or whatever. The government is often preoccupied with important matters and I don't think they close petitions in that case...I don't think they close petitions when they go on their holidays either? Don't understand why this is different tbh if it's not for "respect".

Because all parliamentary business is suspended. That's the reason, pp have said.

Why are you determined to be upset about this, do you have a urgent petition to write?

Parliamentary business is suspended every parliamentary recess, but I haven't seen the petitions website suspended for every parliamentary recess. Have you? Therefore it doesn't suffice as a reason.

The King will open parliament, it will sit again. The petitions will be administered. It'll all get done.

No I don't have a petition I want to start but I just think it's a bit strange and sinister. I mean who knows, maybe there is a republican out there that would like to start a petition now and they're not able to. When will they get that right back?

It's not sinister. Parliament isn't sitting.

Sinister?! It says the closing date has been extended so no time will have been lost. Petitions can be started on 20th September when Parliamentary business resumes.

I'd presume next Tuesday after the national mourning period is over and the funeral is taken care of.

I realise parliament will sit again. I don't understand why this parliamentary break is any different from any other times of year when they're not sitting yet the ability to create a petition remains.

But what if a republican wanted to start a petition to abolish the monarchy now, capitalise on feelings running high etc? That's the opportunity lost for them.

Staff may have been pulled to deal with other immediately pressing issues surrounding Operation London Bridge, which obviously isn't the case during other parliamentary recesses

@SingularityCat But what if a republican wanted to start a petition to abolish the monarchy now, capitalise on feelings running high etc? That's the opportunity lost for them.

I presume the option to send the petition by post is still available?

They could also lobby their MP

We'd better hope our MPs don't decide they've got better things to do than read constituents emails then, hadn't we.

The debates that were due to happen, during this period, are being rearranged.

If they leave open, then it will create a back log. If you care enough about something to want to start a petition, you will still care when they resit.

Seems like a convenient excuse to stifle the right to protest, challenge or question authority to me.
It's a website, and I'm sure there are people who would be willing to work (to maintain, etc.) as not every single person in the country wants to watch the funeral of someone they did not know/were not related to.
No reason to stop petitions.

@SingularityCat

I'm not sure what you want from this thread? People have given you valid and plausible reasons as to why petitions have been suspended, answering your question. If you want the actual answer you could enquire with the relevant governmental department. They might not respond until next week mind.

Anyone with a strong desire or appetite for a Republic, so much that they want to start a petition for it, I'm sure will not be deters by a few days delay

I'm vehemently against the monarchy but the absolute stupidity of so many people criticising them in the last few days has almost turned me.

The reasons given are not valid or plausible at all! Petitions aren't suspended during the many weeks of parliamentary recess each year, petitions weren't (to my knowledge) suspended when Boris prorogued parliament a few years back.

I'm amazed how many people see it as ok that the government has effectively gone "We're too busy to let you have this bit of democracy right now. You can have it back later".