Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has ruled out calling another general election, but said he is “not surprised” some people want a second poll.

Mainly, those who did not vote for Labour back in the summer.

More than 2 million people have now signed a petition on Parliament’s website calling for another election.

The petition is titled: “I would like there to be another general election."

“I believe the current Labour Government have gone back on the promises they laid out in the lead-up to the last election.”

Asked about the petition on ITV’s This Morning programme on Monday, Sir Keir said: “Look, I remind myself that very many people didn’t vote Labour at the last election.

“I’m not surprised that many of them want a re-run. That isn’t how our system works.

“There will be plenty of people who didn’t want us in in the first place.

“So, what my focus is on is the decisions that I have to make every day.”

He characterised decisions taken so far by his Government as “tough but fair”.

Sir Keir and his ministers have faced a particularly strong backlash for limiting winter fuel payments to only the poorest pensioners.

Farmers have also protested over changes to inheritance tax which they claim could affect the future of their businesses.

As he marks five months as Prime Minister, Sir Keir acknowledged the job has been difficult, but added: “I wouldn’t swap a single day in opposition for a day in power.

Recommended reading:

Larry who? Starmer reveals new kitten Prince is yet to meet No 10 cat

Keir Starmer reiterates plans for spiking to become specific offence

Starmer said children will have ‘better Christmas’ as he backs festive appeal

“It’s much better to be in power to do things, rather than the frustration, as I found it, in opposition for all of those long years where we were just able to say what we would do.”

Although it has garnered media attention and millions of signatures, it is far from the largest petition received through the Parliament website, or the one which has seen the most rapid take-up.

In 2019, some 6.1 million people signed a petition calling for the revocation of Article 50 and for the United Kingdom to remain in the European Union, 4 million of whom did so in 48 hours.