Rishi Sunak has given his last speech as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, after a sobering night for the Conservatives as they lost heavily to Labour.
Mr Sunak, who held on to his Richmond seat, said after being announced as the MP he had already called Sir Keir Starmer, who has become the country’s 58th Prime Minister, to congratulate him on his party’s victory. At around 10.30am Sunak, who served for the fourth shortest term in no,10, gave a speech outside Downing Street before leaving to meet with the King.
Below is his resignation speech in full to the nation.
“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. You have sent a clear signal 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 full responsibility for this loss. To all the Conservative candidates and campaigners who worked tirelessly but without success, I am sorry we could not offer what your efforts deserve.
“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 after 14 years in Government the Conservative Party rebuilds, but also 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 relationships with allies, leading global efforts to support Ukraine and becoming the home of transformative technologies.
“And our United Kingdom is stronger too with the Windsor framework, evolution restored in Northern Ireland and our union strengthened. I’m proud of those achievements. I believe this country is safer, stronger, and more secure than it was 20 months ago. And it is more prosperous, fairerand 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 our successes, and I wish him and his family well. 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 the huge transition to their new lives behind this door. And as he grapples with this most demanding of jobs in an increasingly unstable world.
I’d like to thank my colleagues, my Cabinet, the Civil Service, especially here in Downing Street. The team at Chequers, my staff, CCHQ. But, most of all, I’d 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 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 in Downing Street.
“We must hold true to that idea of who we are. 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.
“Thank you.”