In reply to damhan-allaidh:
While that particular petition is not worthy of note and is only being seen because of the clickbait methods of our media, there is certainly reason to consider whether politicians should be free to say whatever they want without repercussion.
Awkwardly remembered, but didn't an MP make slanderous remarks about Sadiq Khan and nothing happened but when a reported reiterated them they got done for slander? Because MPs are immune to such charges. Why? should they not be held accountable for what they say like others?
Also outright lies such as the, might as well use it as it's so often pulled out at the moment, £350 million a week claim (that before anyone says "no one believed that" - yes they bloody did and there's plenty of people that have spoken up saying they personally did). That was a lie to fool those who don't read past the headline. There was never any truth to it but it may have been influential enough to have turned the vote given how close it was. Now, rightly or wrongly - lets not get sidetracked, one of the biggest political decisions of our time and the resultant impact is in progress because of potentially that lie (and it wasn't the only one).
Even newspapers have to print apologies if they mislead, but MPs dont' even have to admit they were 'mistaken'.
I wouldn't jump to conclusion that we need prison sentences, but should there be a debate about repercussions in such situations?
On a side note, did anyone see that Google News is providing a fact checker indicator next to articles going forward to help better inform ? More like this please!