After 1,233 Chesterfield Constituents sign the petition which secured over 100,000 signatures to force a parliamentary debate, Toby Perkins has backed constituent’s calls for an immediate General Election.

Referring to the second Prime Ministerial resignation in three months and the economic instability caused by the mini-budget Toby stated “The six-week Premiership of Liz Truss was an absolute farce from start to finish, however it is sadly hardworking people and families across this country who will be picking up the pieces. But as the Conservative party attempts to airbrush her reign from their history, we should all remember that she was the choice of Conservative Party members, she reached the final two due to the votes of Tory MPs and she was quite clear about what she wanted a mandate to do.

These policies that have caused all this upheaval, prioritising tax cuts for the wealthy and big business ahead of helping people with their energy bills are the policies that Tory MPs and Tory members wanted.

Many people are now facing an extra £500 a month on their mortgages and struggle with the cost of living crisis, particularly energy bills. Despite the brevity of her reign the damage she has inflicted upon our country with will be felt for years to come. “

Despite the hundreds writing in demanding an election, and despite Rishi Sunak having no mandate from either the country or his party, it is only the Prime Minister who can call a General Election, or Conservative MPs who can force a confidence vote in the government, enabling a General Election to take place.”

However, even during the darkest days of the Johnson and Truss administrations, Tory MPs have put party interests before those of the country and so I have little hope that they will act differently now.”

Over the last 12 years we have seen our local authority budgets slashed and now Derbyshire County Council are staring down the barrel of a £19,000,000 funding gap. We have seen our public services butchered by Tory cuts and our NHS, schools and transport systems can’t take further cuts.”

Labour stands ready to serve as a credible alternative, and will have to impatiently wait for the chance to put a fresh vision to the country whenever this exhausted government allows the people to have their say.”

Some residents have asked how they can get involved- they can join the Labour Party here: https://jdr.labour.org.uk/join-journey