.svg)
Over 1,500 residents of Greater Manchester have already added their names to a burgeoning petition demanding that all UK residents be granted the right to vote in London's mayoral elections. Launched just days ago on Friday, May 9th, by a petitioner named John Taylor, the movement argues that the significant influence of the capital city necessitates a nationwide say in who governs it.
The petition, hosted on the UK Parliament website, has rapidly gained traction, already amassing over 36,000 signatures nationwide by today, Monday, May 12th. This includes the considerable contingent of voices from Greater Manchester, spread across various boroughs. Breakdown figures reveal the level of engagement across the region:
* Rochdale: 58 signatures
* Salford: 63 signatures
* Stalybridge and Hyde: 59 signatures
* Stockport: 48 signatures
* Stretford and Urmston: 41 signatures
* Wigan: 70 signatures
* Worsley and Eccles: 58 signatures
* Wythenshawe and Sale East: 59 signatures
The argument presented by the petition centers on the idea that London's economic, political, and cultural weight impacts the entire United Kingdom. Supporters believe that granting all UK residents a vote in the mayoral election would foster a greater sense of national unity and accountability regarding the capital's leadership.
The petition's rapid accumulation of signatures underscores the strength of feeling on this issue, particularly within regions like Greater Manchester. The current milestone of over 1,500 signatures from the area demonstrates a significant portion of the local population believes they should have a say in who leads the UK's most influential city.
The next critical threshold for the petition is 10,000 signatures, at which point the government is obligated to issue a formal response. Should the petition reach 100,000 signatures, it will then be considered for a debate in Parliament by the Petitions Committee. The strong early support from Greater Manchester suggests that the call for a wider electorate in London's mayoral race is a sentiment resonating beyond the capital's borders and could potentially trigger significant political discussion. The petition remains open for signatures for a further six months.
