The outgoing British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stepped down from his role as prime minister on Friday morning, departing from Buckingham Palace after submitting his resignation. His exit from 10 Downing Street came after delivering his concluding remarks as PM, following a resounding electoral defeat at the hands of the Labour Party.
This marks Labour’s return to power after a 14-year hiatus.Sunak’s resignation was formally accepted by King Charles III during their final meeting at the palace. The outgoing prime minister arrived at the palace in an official government vehicle and departed in a private car.
The United Kingdom held a general election on Thursday, where citizens voted to elect the 650 members of Parliament who will represent them for the upcoming five-year term. With the vote count nearly complete, the Labour Party, under the leadership of Keir Starmer, has secured a minimum of 400 parliamentary seats.
The Conservative Party, which has governed the country under five different prime ministers for more than a decade, is projected to see its representation in the 650-seat House of Commons reduced to approximately 130 seats. This outcome would mark the worst electoral performance in the party’s 200-year history, likely leaving the Tories in a state of disarray.
Sunak in his farewell address accepted responsibility for the Conservative Party’s defeat in the general election and expressed his apologies to the voters and his colleagues who lost their seats. Despite the disappointing results, Sunak emphasised that he had given his all to the job during his 20-month tenure.
“I would like to say first and foremost, I am sorry. I have given this job my all, but you have sent a clear signal that the government of the United Kingdom must change,” said Sunak.
“Yours is the only judgment that matters. I have heard your anger, your disappointment, and I take responsibility for this loss… Following this result, I will step down as party leader, not immediately, but once the formal arrangements for selecting my successor are in place,” Sunak added.
Sunak announced his decision to step down as the party leader once the formal arrangements for selecting his successor are in place. He acknowledged the rebuilding work required within the Conservative Party as it assumes the crucial role of the new Opposition in Parliament.
The outgoing leader also highlighted some of his key achievements during his premiership, including falling inflation and leaving the UK “safer, stronger and more secure.”
Looking ahead, Sunak welcomed his successor, Sir Keir Starmer, to the demanding role of prime minister in an increasingly unstable world. Despite being political opponents, Sunak expressed his respect for Starmer, describing him as a “decent, public-spirited man.”
“Whilst he has been my political opponent, Sir Keir Starmer will shortly become our prime minister. In this job, his successes will be all our successes, and I wish him and his family well,” Sunak said.
“Whatever our disagreements in this campaign, he is a decent, public-spirited man, who I respect. He and his family deserve the very best of our understanding, as they make a huge transition to their new lives behind this door,” he added.
He wished Starmer and his family well as they make the significant transition to their new lives at 10 Downing Street.
Concluding his speech, Sunak expressed gratitude to his team, his wife, and his children for the sacrifices they made to enable him to serve the country. He reflected on the remarkable journey of his grandparents, who came to Britain with little, and how he, two generations later, could become prime minister and watch his two young daughters light Diwali candles on the steps of Downing Street.
Sunak emphasised the importance of holding true to the British values of kindness, decency, and tolerance, even in the face of difficult days.
“One of the most remarkable things about Britain is just how unremarkable it is that two generations after my grandparents came here with little I could become prime minister, and that I could watch my two young daughters light Diwali candles on the steps at Downing Street. We must hold true to that idea of who we are,” he emphasised.
“That vision of kindness, decency and tolerance that has always been the British way. This is a difficult day, at the end of a number of difficult days. But I leave this job honoured to have been your Prime Minister. This is the best country in the world and it is thanks entirely to you, the British people, the true source of all our achievements, our strengths and our greatness,” Sunak concluded.
This marks Labour’s return to power after a 14-year hiatus.Sunak’s resignation was formally accepted by King Charles III during their final meeting at the palace. The outgoing prime minister arrived at the palace in an official government vehicle and departed in a private car.
The United Kingdom held a general election on Thursday, where citizens voted to elect the 650 members of Parliament who will represent them for the upcoming five-year term. With the vote count nearly complete, the Labour Party, under the leadership of Keir Starmer, has secured a minimum of 400 parliamentary seats.
The Conservative Party, which has governed the country under five different prime ministers for more than a decade, is projected to see its representation in the 650-seat House of Commons reduced to approximately 130 seats. This outcome would mark the worst electoral performance in the party’s 200-year history, likely leaving the Tories in a state of disarray.
Sunak in his farewell address accepted responsibility for the Conservative Party’s defeat in the general election and expressed his apologies to the voters and his colleagues who lost their seats. Despite the disappointing results, Sunak emphasised that he had given his all to the job during his 20-month tenure.
“I would like to say first and foremost, I am sorry. I have given this job my all, but you have sent a clear signal that the government of the United Kingdom must change,” said Sunak.
“Yours is the only judgment that matters. I have heard your anger, your disappointment, and I take responsibility for this loss… Following this result, I will step down as party leader, not immediately, but once the formal arrangements for selecting my successor are in place,” Sunak added.
Sunak announced his decision to step down as the party leader once the formal arrangements for selecting his successor are in place. He acknowledged the rebuilding work required within the Conservative Party as it assumes the crucial role of the new Opposition in Parliament.
The outgoing leader also highlighted some of his key achievements during his premiership, including falling inflation and leaving the UK “safer, stronger and more secure.”
Looking ahead, Sunak welcomed his successor, Sir Keir Starmer, to the demanding role of prime minister in an increasingly unstable world. Despite being political opponents, Sunak expressed his respect for Starmer, describing him as a “decent, public-spirited man.”
“Whilst he has been my political opponent, Sir Keir Starmer will shortly become our prime minister. In this job, his successes will be all our successes, and I wish him and his family well,” Sunak said.
“Whatever our disagreements in this campaign, he is a decent, public-spirited man, who I respect. He and his family deserve the very best of our understanding, as they make a huge transition to their new lives behind this door,” he added.
He wished Starmer and his family well as they make the significant transition to their new lives at 10 Downing Street.
Concluding his speech, Sunak expressed gratitude to his team, his wife, and his children for the sacrifices they made to enable him to serve the country. He reflected on the remarkable journey of his grandparents, who came to Britain with little, and how he, two generations later, could become prime minister and watch his two young daughters light Diwali candles on the steps of Downing Street.
Sunak emphasised the importance of holding true to the British values of kindness, decency, and tolerance, even in the face of difficult days.
“One of the most remarkable things about Britain is just how unremarkable it is that two generations after my grandparents came here with little I could become prime minister, and that I could watch my two young daughters light Diwali candles on the steps at Downing Street. We must hold true to that idea of who we are,” he emphasised.
“That vision of kindness, decency and tolerance that has always been the British way. This is a difficult day, at the end of a number of difficult days. But I leave this job honoured to have been your Prime Minister. This is the best country in the world and it is thanks entirely to you, the British people, the true source of all our achievements, our strengths and our greatness,” Sunak concluded.