MPs' Guide to Procedure

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Example of paper petition

There are certain phrases that need to be included in the text of the petition:

Phrase to include Why and what you need to add
To the House of Commons Makes it clear who the petition is addressed to; you don't need to add anything
The petition of... Sets out who the petitioners are; you need to describe them in a single sentence - for example: The petition of residents of the constituency of Stone in Staffordshire
Declares that... Sets out the problem or issue your petition is about; you need to describe it in a single sentence - for example: Declares that the No. 31 bus service to Cheadle from Hanley should not be withdrawn
The petitioner(s) therefore request(s) the House of Commons… Set out what action the petitioners want (this section is known as the request or prayer); you need to state clearly what the petitioners want the House of Commons to do. Petitions often ask the House of Commons to urge the Government to take action. It should be possible to understand exactly what the petitioners want by reading this section on its own - for example: The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to ensure that the No.31 bus service to Cheadle from Hanley is not withdrawn; NOT: The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to ensure that the bus service is not withdrawn.
And the petitioner(s) remain(s), etc The formal closing statement of the petition; you don’t need to add anything.

The full text of the petition would look like this:

To the House of Commons The petition of residents of the constituency of Stone in Staffordshire, Declares that the No. 31 bus service to Cheadle from Hanley should not be withdrawn. The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to ensure that the No.31 bus service to Cheadle from Hanley is not withdrawn. And the petitioners remain, etc.

The full text of the petition needs to appear on the top page, but subsequent pages only need the request or prayer (the paragraph beginning “The petitioners therefore request that…”)

A more traditional form of wording is available from the Journal Office on request.