"Yours Is The Only Judgement That Matters”: Rishi Sunak's Resignation Speech

Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty have left Buckingham Palace, with Sunak now a former prime minister after resigning during an audience with the King. Before that, he delivered the resignation speech which covered matters including the future of Tories and its leadership.

“To the country I would like to say first and foremost, I am sorry. 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 judgement that matters,” Sunak stated.

Acknowledging public disappointment and taking responsibility for the loss, Sunak thanked Tory candidates and campaigners, expressing pain over colleagues no longer in the House of Commons. He announced his resignation as Tory leader, effective after a successor is formally appointed.

Emphasising the need for the Conservative party to rebuild and take on a crucial opposition role, Sunak highlighted his achievements as PM, citing economic stability, inflation control, falling mortgage rates, and growth. He referenced the Windsor Framework and Northern Ireland’s devolved government restoration, asserting the UK is “more prosperous, fairer and resilient than in 2010.”

Sunak paid tribute to Keir Starmer, the Labour leader who lead the party to a landslide victory, describing him as a “decent public-spirited man,” deserving respect and understanding during the transition.

“He and his family deserve the very best of our understanding as they make the huge transition to their new lives behind this door, and as he grapples with this most demanding of jobs in an increasingly unstable world,” he added.

Expressing gratitude to his colleagues and his family, Sunak praised the UK’s inclusivity, noting his rise to PM within two generations of his grandparents’ arrival in the UK. Concluding, he described the UK as the best country in the world before leaving Downing Street.