- Monday, July 08, 2024
The 44-year-old outgoing PM said the British people had delivered a ‘sobering verdict’ and there was a lot to learn from the outcome.
By: Shubham Ghosh
RISHI SUNAK, who took up the reins at a time when the UK was going through a turmoil, on Thursday (4) conceded defeat to Labour Party leader Keir Starmer as his Conservative Party was set to experience a humiliating defeat in the general election held the same day. He said sorry to his party leaders and workers and took responsibility for the defeat.
Starmer was on track to succeed the British-Indian leader as the next occupant of 10 Downing Steet as trends showed the Labour registering a landslide victory to return to power after 14 years.
The 44-year-old Sunak, who became the premier in October 2022 and the fifth leader from the Conservatives to get the top office since 2016, said the British people had delivered a “sobering verdict” and there was a lot to learn from the outcome.
“The British people have delivered a sobering verdict tonight… and I take responsibility for the loss,” Sunak said.
“The Labour Party has won this general election, and I have called Keir Starmer to congratulate him on his victory,” he added.
Eight of Sunak’s cabinet ministers lost their seats while he managed to retain his constituency of Richmond and Northallerton in northern England, which was succeeded the now abolished constituency of Richmond (Yorks), bagging more than 47 per cent of the votes.
“To the many good, hard-working Conservative candidates who lost tonight, despite their tireless efforts, their local records and delivery, and their dedication to their communities. I am sorry,” the outgoing prime minister said.
Sunak replaced Liz Truss, who quit after remaining the prime minister for just 45 days, and battled several challenges, particularly the economic one after a tumultuous Brexit.
A growing cost-of-living crisis, with inflation reaching 11.1 per cent in 2022, is also believed to have hurt the Tories.
Opinion polls also suggested the government’s alleged mismanagement of the COVID-19 pandemic and the healthcare system took a toll.
Despite the prospects looking slim, Sunak called the snap election in May, surprising many quarters as he hoped that the reducing inflation and net migration would help his party in the polls. But it was not to be as the Labour continued to have a steady lead over the Conservatives in the pre-poll surveys.
Meanwhile, Starmer said while addressing reporters in central London that the job of the incoming Labour government would be “nothing less than renewing the ideas that hold our country together”.
“We have to return politics to public service… a burden has finally been removed from the shoulders of this great nation,” he added.
