Petitions explained: how they work, what happens after you sign one, and whether they really make a difference
Every year, millions of people sign online petitions calling for political change. From animal welfare and healthcare to taxation and foreign policy, petitions have become one of the most popular ways for people to engage with politics between elections. But what actually happens after you sign a petition? And do petitions really influence Parliament and government, or are they simply a way for people to express their views?
What you need to know
Anyone can create a petition on the UK Parliament petitions website.
A petition with 10,000 signatures receives a government response.
A petition with 100,000 signatures is considered for debate in Parliament.
Petitions are overseen by the House of Commons Petitions Committee.
While petitions do not automatically change the law, they can influence parliamentary scrutiny and public debate.
What is a parliamentary petition?
Petitioning those in power has a long history in Britain. The right to petition was formally recognised in the Bill of Rights 1689, while historians have traced petitioning back even further to medieval England. Petitioners have historically used petitions to raise grievances, campaign for political change and influence decision-makers.
Today, petitions remain an important way for the public to raise issues with Parliament and government.
How does the petitions system work?
The current electronic petitions system was introduced in 2015 and is jointly linked to both the House of Commons and the UK Government. It allows members of the public to submit petitions online and gather signatures from supporters across the country.
The system is overseen by the Petitions Committee, a cross-party committee of MPs that can investigate petitions, gather evidence and schedule parliamentary debates.
Two thresholds are particularly important:
- At 10,000 signatures, the government must issue a formal response.
- At 100,000 signatures, the petition is considered for a debate in Parliament.
Importantly, reaching 100,000 signatures does not guarantee a debate, although many petitions that achieve this threshold are debated.
Do petitions actually change policy?
Often, not directly.
Many people assume that reaching 100,000 signatures means Parliament must change the law. In reality, petitions are designed to put issues on the political agenda rather than automatically deliver policy change.
However, that does not mean they are ineffective. The Petitions Committee can seek further information from ministers, take evidence from campaigners, refer issues to select committees and organise debates that attract media and political attention.
In this way, petitions can increase pressure on governments and help keep issues in the public eye.
Do people use the petitions system?
Very much so.
During the first decade of the current system, more than 35,000 petitions were submitted. Over 2,000 received government responses after passing 10,000 signatures, while more than 380 were debated in Parliament.
At the same time, these figures highlight a challenge. Only a small proportion of petitions ever reach the thresholds required for further action, leading some critics to argue that expectations are often higher than what the system can realistically deliver.
So, are petitions worth signing?
Research suggests that measuring success purely by whether a petition changes government policy misses the bigger picture.
Petitions can help campaigners build networks of support, attract media attention, engage MPs and raise awareness of important issues. They can also serve as a stepping stone to other forms of political action.
For many petitioners, success is not simply about changing the law. It is about ensuring that a particular issue is heard and discussed by decision-makers.
Looking beyond the numbers
When people talk about petitions, attention often focuses on whether they reach 100,000 signatures. But petitions are about more than hitting a target.
At their best, they create a direct connection between citizens and Parliament, giving people an opportunity to place issues on the political agenda and have their concerns recognised. While petitions rarely produce immediate policy change, they remain one of the most accessible ways for the public to engage with the political process.