PeakNews Online
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak bade an emotional farewell to Downing Street on Friday after leading the Tories to their worst ever election result – with Keir Starmer waiting in the wings to take over.
Flanked by clearly emotional wife Akshata Murty, the outgoing Prime Minister delivered his parting statement as he prepared to head for Buckingham Palace to formally tender his resignation to the King and bring an end to 14 years of Conservative government.
He said: ‘I have given this job my all. But you have sent a clear message, and yours is the only judgment that matters,’
‘This is a difficult day, but I leave this job honoured to have been prime minister of the best country in the world.’
Mr Sunak said he would resign as Tory leader once a replacement had been chosen. He also paid tribute to Sir Keir as a public servant, wishing him and his family well in their new duties.
After his short speech the couple – not accompanied by their daughters and with Akshata carrying an umbrella – walked hand-in-hand to a waiting car and were driven away to see the King.
A statement from Buckingham Palace a short time later said: ‘The Right Honourable Rishi Sunak MP had an audience of The King this morning and tendered his resignation as Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury, which His Majesty was graciously pleased to accept.’
Sir Keir is basking in a massive general election win following a brutal night for the Conservatives – but Labour’s victory is being dubbed a ‘loveless landslide’ and a ‘super meh-jority’.
With nearly all constituencies having declared their results, Labour were found to have won barely one in three votes across the UK.
Polling experts highlighted how Labour’s vote share of 33.8 per cent is likely to be less than any of Sir Tony Blair’s general election victories in 1997, 2001 or 2005.
