Minority rules??

We've heard a lot recently about these e-petitions, whereby if they attract more than 100,000 votes they are considered for discussion in Parliament.  But do the maths - the population of this country is some 60 million, which makes 100,000 equivalent to about one-sixth of one per cent!  Even if we just restrict it to those registered to vote it is still only about a quarter of a percent.  So this minute fraction of the population holding a particular view is enough to trigger Parliamentary debate?  Where did that idea come from?