Rishi Sunak, who resigned as the UK Prime Minister on Friday, has announced that he will also step down as the Conservative leader once the formal process for selecting his successor is in place following the General Election result.
“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,” Sunak stated in a brief speech outside the PM’s office at Downing Street.
“I have heard your anger, your disappointment, and I take responsibility for this loss. To all the Conservative candidates and campaigners who worked tirelessly, but without success, I’m sorry that we could not deliver what your efforts deserved,” he added.
Acknowledging the Tories’ defeat, Sunak apologized to voters for the party’s poor performance but emphasized that the UK was “more prosperous, fairer, and resilient than in 2010” during the 14 years of Conservative governance.
“When I first stood here as your Prime Minister, I said the most important task I had was to return stability to our economy. Inflation is back to target, mortgage rates are falling, and growth has returned. We have enhanced our standing in the world,” he said.
“This is a difficult day, but I leave this job honored to have been Prime Minister of the best country in the world,” Sunak remarked before he and his wife departed for Buckingham Palace, where the outgoing PM formally submitted his resignation to King Charles.