The British people delivered Prime Minister Rishi Sunak an unambiguous and devastating message in Thursday’s general election, ending 14 years of Conservative rule with the party’s worst electoral result in its 200-year history. With the scale of his crushing defeat to Labour leader Keir Starmer clear, Sunak began his departure Friday with an apology.
“I will shortly be seeing his majesty the king to offer my resignation as prime minister,” Sunak said outside 10 Downing Street Friday before heading to Buckingham Palace for a private meeting with King Charles III. “To the country, I would like to say first and foremost: I am sorry,” he continued. “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 judgment that matters. I have heard your anger, your disappointment, and I take responsibility for this loss.”
With most districts counted, Labour will sweep to power with at least 412 seats in the 650-seat House of Commons. But this being Britain, there’s the inevitable rigmarole of a royal ceremony to go through before the country officially has its new prime minister.
