Rishi Sunak resigns as Conservative Party leader

The move by the British prime minister comes after the Tories suffered a crushing defeat to Labour in the general election

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced that he will be stepping down as the leader of the Conservatives after his party’s disastrous performance in the general election on Thursday.

Sunak took to X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, writing: “This is a difficult day, but I leave this job honored to have been prime minister of the best country in the world.

"I have given this job my all. But you have sent a clear message, and yours is the only judgment that matters,” he said, addressing Conservative Party members.

Moments after posting the message, Sunak delivered a speech outside 10 Downing Street, clarifying that he will remain as the Tory leader until his successor is selected.

“I would like to say, first and foremost, I am sorry. I have given this job my all. I have heard your anger, your disappointment, and I take responsibility for this loss,” he said.

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The Conservatives look likely to win just 121 seats in the parliament in the general election, which is 244 fewer than they got in 2019. Keir Starmer’s Labour Party has emerged as the big winner, and is on course to win at least 412 seats and a sweeping majority. "Following this result, I will step down as party leader,” Sunak said.

“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,” he stated.

After his speech, the prime minister went to visit King Charles at Buckingham Palace as part of the procedure for handing over power.

Buckingham Palace later confirmed that Sunak “had an audience with 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.”

READ MORE: Tory heavyweights lose seats in election wipeout

Starmer visited the palace later on Friday, where he was instructed to form the next government. Labour’s national campaign manager, Pat McFadden, said earlier that he expects a new cabinet to be appointed by the end of the day and to hold its first meeting on Saturday.