To wish the government would bin all petitions

[Tonemeth]

I'm not referring to any particular petition because there are loads that are making me roll my eyes just now.

AIBU to think if there is a strength of feeling about something it should go through proper political channels (sure, this apparently is one, but my AIBU basically is I think it isnt) like a local MP etc?

Some of the petitions are just ridiculous but because it's easy to do and they get sent about facebook so easily, they reach the minimum numbers fairly quickly.

Of course any with real merit tend to get ignored once they reach parliament anyway.

So, AIBU and grumpy or should i start a petition to abolish petitions on the .gov site?

A petition is the ‘proper channel’. One of them. It reaches parliament after a certain number of signatories and is debated in parliament after a considerable amount more.
Just ignore them.

Given that my MP is a frothing hard Brexit loon, who doesn't listen to anyone local except the Duke...

Yeah, less democracy, that's just what we need.

Petitions are one of the only ways the public can ensure issues are discussed in parliament. They are often the first step to new laws

Yes, some of the them are pointless or frivilous, but that doesn't mean they should be got rid of

It was probably a petition that kicked off equal marriage being made law

Terrible idea

I'd be interested to see the stats on how many make it to be discussed etc. Theres just so many bloody stupid ones!

YANBU. Have you seen the one about maternity leave should be extended by another 3 months paid? Because they can’t take their kids to baby groups during lockdown? The petitions are getting more greedy and ridiculous by the day!

I only sign the ones I agree with, I ignore the others.

People tend to sign them in a vacuum, as a wishlist for anything they want that sounds nice - More bank holidays! Reduced working hours! More paid maternity leave! Increased wages!

And that belittles the genuinely serious issue ones.

And that belittles the genuinely serious issue ones.

I totally agree buzz, that's essentially my point. The majority of them are in Lalaland or at best ill thought out.

The majority of them are in Lalaland or at best ill thought out.

Has your local council got its own version? If you want real batshit, read some of those! "I demand the council start a kerbside service for my milk bottle lids!"; "XYZ council must stop people using Tesco car park when the store is shut!", "Please stop people driving down my road on a Monday afternoon as my baby is napping!" etc

Sadly not, I wish they did!

Tonemeth

That could create a rather hilarious logic problem. If your petition succeeds, they would have to abolish all petitions, including your one. Which would mean petitions were no longer abolished, which means your petition would come into effect. Which means they would abolish all petitions, including your one. Which means...

CendrillonSings

Dammit, you're right. Petition inception.

The pretty much do bin all petitions. The mealy mouthed responses I’ve ever received when I’ve sent one all amount to ‘fuck off’.

Didn't over 5 million people sign a petition last year ?

Can anyone remember what happened ?

To be honest I thought all petitions were binned anyway. Has any led to anything ?

I might do a FOI post corona virus