Thousands of Edinburgh residents call for a general election

Thousands of people living in Edinburgh have signed an online petition calling for a general election, figures show.

The economic turmoil brought on by the Government's recent mini-budget has caused anger among many, with numerous public figures suggesting that Prime Minister Liz Truss – or even her entire cabinet – should step down in order to restore stability.

On Monday the new Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, reneged on most of the tax cuts laid out in the mini-budget in an attempt to win back critics of Ms Truss's administration.

Nevertheless, a petition on the Parliament website calling for a general election has reached more than 600,000 signatures – with 6,066 coming from people living in Edinburgh as of 3pm on Monday. Broken down into Edinburgh’s Westminster wards, the petition has been signed by 1,317 people in Edinburgh South, 2,070 in Edinburgh North and Leith, 1,108 in Edinburgh West, 1,332 in Edinburgh South West and 1,564 in Edinburgh East.

Prime Minister Liz Truss is under pressure following her government's mini-budget last month. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)

The petition asks for "an immediate general election to end the chaos of the current government".

It lists the war in Ukraine, problems with the Northern Ireland protocol, looming recession and renewed calls for Scottish independence as among "the greatest set of challenges we have seen in our lifetimes".

"Let the people decide who leads us through this turmoil," the petition concludes.

The three largest opposition parties in Westminster – Labour, the Scottish National Party, and the Liberal Democrats – all called for a general election last week, in response to the economic problems brought on by the Government's September mini-budget.

The Union flag over the Palace of Westminster, London. Photo PA.

Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said the Prime Minister had "trashed the British economy" and "humiliated the Conservative Government in the eyes of the world".

“People are angry, they are fed up, and they’re worried about the future, but above all, they are furious with this Conservative Party, so I think it’s time they had their say – it’s time for a general election,” he told BBC News on Friday.

Across Scotland, 52,806 people had signed the petition by Monday afternoon.

Any petition with more than 100,000 signatures must be debated in Parliament – a threshold met by the petition at the end of September, meaning it was due to be discussed today (Monday) at 4.30pm.

At 632,188 signatures and counting, it is currently the most signed open petition on the Parliament website.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer also heaped scorn on Ms Truss's Government, calling the events of the last month "grotesque chaos".

He laid the blame squarely on the Conservative party for surging mortgage rates and pensions dropping in value.

Mr Hunt appeared to rule out an early election over the weekend.

Asked on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme about how long Ms Truss would remain Prime Minister, Mr Hunt replied: "what the country wants now is stability".

He said the Government "will judged by what we deliver over the next 18 months" – suggesting he does not think there will be an election before then.

In a response to the petition on September 20, the Government said: "The UK is a Parliamentary democracy and the Conservative Party remains the majority party.

"The Prime Minister has pledged to ensure opportunity and prosperity for all people and future generations."