Black Country publican's petition calling for general election is being debated at Westminster this evening

The Call a General Election petition started by Mike Westwood quickly attracted 10,000 signatures - which is enough to earn a response - and then it rose to 100,000 signatures meaning the issue would be considered for a debate in parliament. 

After earning millions of signatures since it began - just over three million in total - the issue will be debated by the Petitions Committee today (January 6). 

The debate is being streamed live from Westminster Hall on the Governments official YouTube channel. 

Mr Westwood, from Gornal and said he voted for the Conservatives at the General Election in July, said he'd started the petition after growing sick of what he called "doomsday" statements from the Government.

He said: "I was getting sick of all the doomsday material coming from the Government as everything was really negative and they were talking about how there was going to be no money to spend.

"Given the lies they told to get into power and the things they've done since coming into power, I just thought why not do this as the thought of not speaking up and trying to get my point across didn't work for me. That's why I went on the site and started the petition, just to see if anyone else would agree with me."

Mr Westwood, who runs the Five Ways Pub, said he was dumbstruck about how many people had signed the petition, including Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, and said that while he didn't expect it to go anywhere, he was pleased to have got his point across.

A response was posted last month, December 6, on the petition, it said: "This Government was elected on a mandate of change at the July 2024 general election. Our full focus is on fixing the foundations, rebuilding Britain, and restoring public confidence in government.

"The Prime Minister can call a general election at a time of their choosing by requesting a dissolution of Parliament from the Sovereign within the five-year life of a Parliament. The Government was elected by the British people on a mandate of change at the July 2024 general election.

"This Government is fixing the foundations and delivering change with investment and reform to deliver growth, with more jobs, more money in people’s pockets, to rebuild Britain and get the NHS back on its feet. This will be built on the strong foundations of a stable economy, national security and secure borders as we put politics back in the service of working people.

"On entering office, a £22 billion black hole was identified in the nation’s finances. We inherited unprecedented challenges, with crumbling public services and crippled public finances, but will deliver a decade of national renewal through our five missions: economic growth, fixing the NHS, safer streets, making Britain a clean energy super-power and opportunity for all. This is what was promised and is what we are delivering.

"The Government’s first Budget freed up tens of billions of pounds to invest in Britain’s future while locking in stability, preventing devastating austerity in our public services and protecting working people’s payslips.

"Mission-led government rejects the sticking-plaster solutions of the past and unites public and private sectors, national, devolved and local government, business and unions, and the whole of civil society in a shared purpose. The Government will continue to deliver the manifesto of change that it was elected on."