- Monday, July 08, 2024
The Indian-origin leader said he will step down as the Conservative Party leader but only after the formal arrangements for selecting his successor are in place.
By: Shubham Ghosh
RISHI SUNAK on Friday (5) morning resigned as the prime minister of Britain after his Conservative Party suffered a humiliating electoral defeat in the general election held a day earlier. The opposition Labour led by Keir Starmer registered a sweeping victory by clinching more than 410 seats in the 650-member House of Commons while the Tories’ tally crashed by 250 to end up at just 121.
Sunak, the UK’s first premier of colour, met King Charles III at Buckingham Palace to tender his resignation and it was followed by a meeting between the king and Keir Starmer, the Labour leader who will now become the new prime minister.
Before his meeting with the monarch, Sunak made a speech outside 10 Downing Street where he said that he heard people’s anger and took responsibility for the defeat. He also praised Starmer as a “decent public spirited man” and called the UK the best country in the world.
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Later he left the official residence with his Indian-born wife Akshata Murty.
Here is the full text of Sunak’s parting speech after his party lost power after 14 years:
Good morning. I will shortly be seeing His Majesty The King to offer my resignation as Prime Minister.
To the country, 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 and yours is the only judgement that matters.
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I have heard your anger; your disappointment and I take responsibility for this loss.
To all the Conservative candidates and campaigners who work tirelessly but without success, I am sorry that we could not deliver what your efforts deserved. It pains me to think how many good colleagues who contributed so much to their communities and our country, will now no longer sit in the House of Commons.
I thank them for their hard work and their service. Following this result, I will step down as party leader. Not immediately, but once the formal arrangements for selecting my successor are in place. It is important that after 14 years in government, the Conservative party rebuilds, but also, it takes up its crucial role in opposition professionally and effectively.
When I first stood here as your Prime Minister, I told you the most important task I had was to return stability to our economy. Inflation is back to target, mortgage rates are falling, and growth has returned.
We have enhanced our standing in the world, rebuilding relations with allies, leading global efforts to support Ukraine and becoming the home of new generation of transformative technologies.
And our United Kingdom is stronger too with the Windsor framework, devolution restored in Northern Ireland and our union strengthened.
I am proud of those achievements.
I believe this country is safer, stronger and more secure than it was twenty months ago, and it is more prosperous, fairer and resilient than it was in 2010.
Whilst he has been my political opponent, Sir Keir Starmer will shortly become our Prime Minister.
In this job, his successes will be all of our successes and I wish him and his family well.
Whatever our disagreements in this campaign, he is decent public-spirited man who I respect.
He and his family deserve the very best of our understanding as they make the huge transition to their new lives behind this door, and as he grapples with this most demanding of jobs in this increasingly unstable world.
I would like to thank my colleagues, my Cabinet, the Civil Service, especially here in Downing Street. The team at Chequers, my staff, CCHQ but most all I would like to express my gratitude to my wife Akshata and our beautiful daughters. I can never thank them enough for the sacrifices they have made, so that I might serve our country.
One of the most remarkable things about Britain is 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 of Downing Street.
We must hold true to that idea of who we are.
That vison 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.
Thank you.
