Rishi Sunak’s full speech as Tories undergo enormous loss and sink to historic defeat

Shellshocked Rishi Sunak conceded power to Labour early today – and called Sir Keir Starmer to congratulate him on becoming Prime Minister.

Sunak held his safe seat for the Tories even as his party faced an election wipe out. The soon-to-be-former PM remains as MP for Richmond and Northallerton in North Yorkshire. At the 2019 election, he had a thumping 27,210 majority from Labour in Richmond, North Yorkshire. Today that is vastly reduced as the Tories faced up to a Labour landslide after 14 years in power.

Looking downcast, he confirmed that he had called Sir Keir to concede the election. He also said sorry to the Tory MPs who had lost their seats. He won with 23,059 votes from Labour’s Tom Wilson with 10,874; Reform had 7,142 votes.

Sunak pledged to stay on as MP even if he lost the job of Prime Minister. He looked stony faced as he arrived at the count just after 4.30am, and refused to answer any questions.

Conceding power to Labour, Sunak said: “Could I start by thanking the returning officer and all the people working at the polling station today. You make our democracy possible. I would also like to thank the police who ensure we can conduct this ballot in North Yorkshire but also across the country in safety.

“On this difficult night I would like to express my gratitude to the people of the Richmond and Northallerton constituency for your continued support. Since I have moved here a decade ago, you have made me and my family feel so at home and I look forward to serving you for years to come. I am grateful to my agent and team and congratulate my opponents here for their energetic and good natured campaign.

“The Labour Party has won this General Election and I have called Sir Keir Starmer to congratulate him on his victory. Today power will change hands in a peaceful and orderly manner with good will on all sides and that is something we should be grateful for. The British people have delivered a sobering verdict tonight and there is much to learn and reflect on.

“I take responsibility for the loss. To the many good, hard working Conservative candidates who have lost, despite their tireless efforts, their local records and dedication to their communities, I am sorry. I will now travel down to London where I will say more about tonight’s result before I leave the job for which I have given my all. I look forward to spending more time with you all in the weeks, months and years ahead. Thank you.”

He looked downcast throughout his speech, his wife Akshata Murty by his side when he arrived. He pledged to continue to serve in Richmond and ‘spend more time here and with my family’.

Mr Wilson, Labour candidate, said Sunak had spent eight days campaigning in the constituency and they met briefly at a local food festival. Mr Wilson, originally from Darlington, Co Durham and now working at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, said: “I have enjoyed my campaign here immensely. Many have come out to support us over the past six weeks.”

After watching Tory seats fall to Labour across the country, Sunak stood alongside novelty candidates Count Binface and the Monster Raving Loony Party’s Sir Archibald Stanton when the result was announced.

Sir Archibald, in a red suit covered in red bats, carried a wooden puppet named Gilly. He posed for photos with his supporters before Count Binface arrived in Northallerton leisure centre hall to take the limelight.

Count Binface describes himself as ‘an intergalactic space warrior and leader of the Recyclons from planet Sigma IX’. He said: “The two leaders at the last election were the worst in our history (Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn). Numerically my chances of winning are quite small, but morally quite high. I am taking the high ground in this election, plus I will get 50 extra Twitter followers.

“I have enjoyed it very much and looking on the bright side, in this country the campaign is only six weeks, in America it goes on for months.” He added that he will be touring the UK in the autumn. The man behind the bin is Jon Harvey, a comedian and writer.

The hall was full of news crews. The exit polls carried out for broadcasters including the BBC predicted a Labour majority of 170 with 410 seats, a 209 gain.

It put the Tories on 131, having lost 241 MPs with the Lib Dems on 61. Outside the polling station in the market square of Richmond, one former Tory voter said: “I have voted for Reform. I don’t particularly like Rishi Sunak and I wanted a change.”

A married couple who have lived in the constituency for 35 years but declined to be named told the Mirror: “We have voted Lib Dem.”

The husband, Mike, said: “I like the Lib Dem candidate because he lives locally. When you look down the addresses for the candidates, many of them are from London. I think he has a fair chance. There is a strong Lib Dem presence on the local councils.” His wife added: “We don’t normally talk about how we vote but I voted Lib Dem as well.

“We did not discuss it in advance.” Adele Marshall, 45, a mum-of-two and trainee journalist from nearby Middleton Tyas, said: “It would be extraordinary if he were to lose his seat. I am a Conservative and I voted for him this morning for a lot of different reasons. I guess it was better the devil you know for me.” She added: “Maybe Count Binface could be in with a chance.” She liked the pledge by the self-styled Universe’s favourite novelty politician ‘to back Ceefax’.

Many voters approached in the Mirror straw poll did not want to be named as ‘former’ Tories. One said: “I have voted Green in the past, but went for Lib Dems this time.” Another told us: “I just hope it is a landslide and it is over quickly!”

The Prime Minister was at home as party workers gathered at Northallerton Leisure Centre 16 miles away. He made the short drive to the count in the early hours of the morning.