Hundreds of people in Reading have signed a petition calling for a general election to 'end the chaos of Liz Truss’ Government.'

Across the UK, almost five times more people have called on the Prime Minister to hold an election than voted Liz Truss into Number 10.

Just over 1,500 people from Reading have signed the request, after the Government’s tax cuts for the wealthy saw the value of the pound hit a 37-year low.

If a general election were held today, Labour would win 54 per cent of the vote and Conservatives 21 per cent, according to the latest YouGov poll.

READ MORE: Murderer from Reading wrapped victim in bin bags and stored body in cupboard

The Cabinet Office rejected the petition, but with 381,000 signatures it must be debated under parliamentary rules.

In Reading West, which voted Conservative at the last general elction, 671 people have signed the petition and in Reading East (Labour), there are 838 signatories.  

The petition reads: “The chaos engulfing the UK government is unprecedented. Over 40 ministers resigned leaving departments without leadership during cost of living, energy and climate crises.

“War rages in Ukraine; the Northern Ireland Protocol has further damaged our relationship with Europe; recession looms; the UK itself may cease to exist as Scotland seeks independence.

“This is the greatest set of challenges we have seen in our lifetimes. Let the people decide who leads us through this turmoil.”

READ MORE: 'Predator' who tried to sexually assault child in school toilets is jailed

Liz Truss was elected Prime Minister by 81,326 Conservative Party members on a platform of cutting taxes in a departure from the policies implemented by Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak.

The cuts give back £55,000 extra to people earning £1million a year, compared to £157 to those on £20,000.

Following her mini-budget, the Bank of England was forced to launch an emergency bond-buying programme to prevent borrowing costs from spiralling out of control and to stave off a “material risk to UK financial stability”.

The International Monetary Fund, in a highly unusual move, flagged serious concerns, followed by former Conservative chancellor George Osbourne and influential Tory MP Michael Gove.

A spokesperson for the Cabinet Office wrote: “The United Kingdom is a Parliamentary democracy, not a Presidential one. Following the general election of December 2019, Members of Parliament of the governing party (the Conservative Party) were elected, such that there is a majority in the House of Commons.

“This remains the case. A change in the leader of the governing party does not trigger a general election.”

They continued: “In her speech of 6 September 2022, the new Prime Minister set out three early priorities: to grow Britain’s economy, deal with the energy crisis caused by Putin’s war, and putting the national health service on a firm footing.

“The Prime Minister is determined to address the challenges the country faces and ensure opportunity and prosperity for all people and future generations.”

Liz Truss stood by the budget in an interview with the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg.

“I do want to say to people I understand their worries about what has happened this week,” she said.

“I do stand by the package we announced and I stand by the fact we announced it quickly, because we had to act.

“But I do accept we should have laid the ground better… I have learnt from that and I will make sure that in future we do a better job of laying the ground.”

Meanwhile, Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng is facing calls for an official inquiry following a Sunday Times report that he attended a private champagne reception with hedge fund managers who stood to gain from a collapse in sterling following the mini-budget.