Following his Conservatives’ defeat by Labour in the UK general election, Rishi Sunak expressed regret to the people on Friday and announced his resignation as party leader.
The 44-year-old former financier took a risk by traveling to the nation six months ahead of schedule in the hopes that improved economic statistics would turn the tide of public opinion in favor of the Conservatives.
However, Thursday’s result suggested that, following 14 years of economic misery, turmoil around Brexit, and internal Tory division, Britons wished to make a strong statement to the party by ousting them from office.
“To the country, I would like to say first and foremost, I am sorry,” he said outside the Prime Minister’s residence at Downing Street, before heading to Buckingham Palace to tender his resignation as prime minister to King Charles III.
“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.”
“I have heard your anger, your disappointment, and I take responsibility for this loss.”
The scale of the defeat made it inevitable that Sunak the conservative party’s fifth leader since 2010 would have to step down as Tory head as well.
But he said that he would stay on in the role until the arrangements were made for an internal leadership contest, which is expected to be a fight for the ideological soul of the party.
Sunak saw a record number of his top ministerial team lose their seats, including defence secretary Grant Shapps and House of Commons leader Penny Mordaunt.
His immediate predecessor as prime minister, Liz Truss, also lost her seat.
Sunak an observant Hindu who is Britain’s first prime minister of colour wished his successor Keir Starmer well, calling him “a decent, public-spirited man who I respect”.
