The PM has spoken in Downing Street after a crushing defeat which saw Keir Starmer sweep to power – with 12 Cabinet members kicked out as the Tories descend into civil war
Watch in full: Rishi Sunak speaks for final time as Prime Minister following election defeat
Rishi Sunak has said sorry to the nation after voters kicked the Tories out – and announced he’s resigning as party leader.
The Prime Minister is reeling after a historic defeat which saw the Tories swept from power following a disastrous campaign. There were 12 Cabinet casualties, with Grant Shapps, Penny Mordaunt, Gillian Keegan and Johnny Mercer among the big names cast out.
Speaking outside No10 he announced he would step down as Tory leader once a successor is found. He said “I am sorry, I have given this job my all but you’ve sent a clear signal that the Government of the United Kingdom must change.”
He went on: “I have heard your anger, your disappointment, and I take responsibility for this loss.”
Mr Sunak becomes one of the shortest-serving PMs in history, having been in No10 for one year and 254 days. He took the top job in October 2022 following Liz Truss’s disastrous 49-day spell in No10.
The crushing defeat is set to start off a brutal Tory civil war, with sacked former Home Secretary Suella Braverman appearing to fire the starting gun on an ugly leadership race. Earlier Mr Sunak, 44, apologised to defeated candidates and said he took responsibility.
Moments before his speech he wrote on Twitter/X: “I have given this job my all. But you have sent a clear message, and yours is the only judgement 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.”
Voters were unforgiving as Ms Truss was kicked out of her Norfolk South West seat this morning. In the early hours Mr Sunak admitted the game was up, saying at his own election count that the public had “delivered a sobering verdict”.
In a speech at Northallerton leisure centre he said: “The British people have delivered a sobering verdict tonight, there is much to learn… and I take responsibility for the loss. To the many good, hard-working Conservative candidates who lost tonight, despite their tireless efforts, their local records and delivery, and their dedication to their communities. I am sorry.”
By 10.30am Labour had 412 seats, the Tories had 121, while the Lib Dems had 71.
He will have bruising criticism ringing in his ears, including that of Ms Braverman, who is expected to challenge for the party leadership. In a furious rant she said: “You, the great British people, voted for us over 14 years and we did not keep our promises.
“I will do everything in my power to rebuild trust. We need to listen to you, you have spoken to us very clearly.”
