The Outgoing Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Rishi Sunak, has urged the citizens of the UK to give their support and their understanding to the incoming Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, saying that his success will be the success of all of Britain.
Sunak said this in a final address to the country outside 10 Downing Street, as he also announced that he will be seeing the king to tender his resignation as Prime Minister, and that he will also be stepping down as the leader of the Conservative Party.
This came after the UK’s general elections where Starmer secured the 326 seats required for a majority in the House of Commons – putting an end to 14 years of Conservative rule.
Sunak, in his speech, said, “Whilst he has been my political opponent, Sir Keir Startmer 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 the most demanding of jobs in an increasingly unstable world.”
Announcing his plans to resign, Sunak said, “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, 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 those thoughts.
“To all the conservative candidates and campaigners that worked tirelessly but without success, I am sorry that we could not deliver what your efforts deserved. 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 electing my successor are in place. It is important that after 14 years in government, the Conservative Party rebuilds, but also that it 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 have fallen, and growth has returned. We have enhanced our standing in the world, rebuilding relations with allies, leading global efforts to support Ukraine, and becoming the home of a new generation of transformative technologies. And our United Kingdom is stronger too with the Windsor framework, Devolution 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, fairer, and resilient than it was in 2010.
The outgoing Prime Minister also thanked his colleagues and his staff, mostly expressing his gratitude to his wife and daughters for the sacrifices they made so that he could govern Britain effectively.
“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,” he said.
Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi
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