Rishi Sunak has handed over the keys to 10 Downing Street, departing with a call for “decency and tolerance” in British politics along with well wishes to new Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The Conservative PM has in the past few minutes officially resigned from his post after a disastrous night for the Tories. He is also stepping down as Tory leader although he said he will oversee a transition period so that the party can “take up a crucial role in opposition professionally and effectively.”
He was speaking as the Tories were sent into electoral oblivion with just 121 seats, nearly 300 behind Labour’s tally.
Standing outside his home of the past 18 months, with wife Akshata Murty behind him, at least not sodden this time following the rain-soaked election announcement six weeks ago, Sunak called for a “vision of kindness, decency and tolerance” to hold in the UK.
“One remarkable thing about Britain is how unremarkable it is that two generations after my grandparents came to this country, I could become Prime Minister,” he said. “We must hold true to who we are. This is a difficult day but I leave this job honored to have been your Prime Minister.”
With warm words that ran counter to a sometimes bad-tempered, duelling campaign, Sunak called Starmer “a decent, public-spirited man, whom I respect.”
“He and his family need our understanding as they make the transition to lives behind this door and as he grapples with this most demanding of jobs in an increasingly unstable world,” he said. “In this job, his successes will become all of our successes and I wish him and his family well.”
After an incredible night for Labour, Starmer, who earlier said “change begins now” to a big group of well-wishers, will now head to Buckingham Palace to see King Charles III, where he will be officially appointed.
He will then move into 10 Downing Street and appoint a cabinet, with work in government beginning.
Although its vote share was not huge, it was an astonishingly good night for Labour, along with some of the nation’s smaller parties. Nigel Farage’s Reform UK made a huge dent in the Conservative vote, winning 4 million although just four seats – disappointing given that it was projected 13 by the exit poll. The Liberal Democrats had a fantastic night with 71 seats and the Green Party won four, its best return.
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