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They've debated something like a dozen petitions in Parliament. I'm not aware of anything meaningful having happened as a result.

Like the million people marching against the Iraq war in london 2003?

Marching in the streets sends a much stronger message per person than does signing an online petition.

It had fuck all effect though.

We don't really know what the impact is further down the line, the government has lost a vote over going to war since.

Trump's still been invited on a state visit.

Are people in the UK really signing a petition that amounts to "don't invite the President of the United States to the UK on an official visit"?

Yes, and when 3% of the entire country's population has gone out of their way to vote for that, it's worth serious consideration.

It's often said that one letter written and sent is representative of the opinion of 1,000 people. Perhaps with online petitions it's more like 5.

He was invited before any petition.

The petition was to convert it to a regular foreign visit, rather than a State Visit where he meets the Queen, etc.

Politicians are kings of being silly, then...