Keir Starmer has dismissed a petition demanding another general election as the number of people signing it passed the two million mark. The prime minister said he was “not surprised” that his popularity has nosedived because of many of the decisions Labour has taken since winning power nearly five months ago.

Keir Starmer might think that the petition is a stunt no matter how many millions of signatures it gathered, but he'd be wrong.

Sir Keir Starmer has ruled out an early general election after a petition calling for a second vote reached two million signatures.

Keir Starmer has until 2029 at the latest to call the election, and most observers believe he is unlikely to do so until summer 2028 at the earliest. Given Labour’s huge 170-seat Commons majority, the chances of the government losing a vote of confidence - another way in which an election can be triggered - are virtually nil.

The PM blamed 'difficult' decisions in the Budget for the huge backlash he has been facing as he appeared on ITV 's This Morning.