Following the landslide Labour victory in the general election, outgoing prime minister Rishi Sunak has visited the King to hand in his resignation.
Sunak said outside Downing Street this morning, that he would step down as Conservative leader as soon as arrangements were in place to select a successor.
But he will continue to serve as an MP for Richmond and North Allerton in Yorkshire, where he did retain his seat.
He said: “To the country, I would like to say I am sorry. I have given this job by all but you have sent a clear signal that the government of the UK must change and yours is the only judgement that matters.
“I have heard your anger, your disappointment and I take responsibility for this loss.
“It pains me to think how many good colleagues who contributed so much to their communities and their country will no longer sit in the House of Commons. I thank them for their hard work and their service.”
He said he had called Keir Starmer to congratulate him on his victory, adding: “Today power will change hands in a peaceful and orderly manner with good will on all sides. That is something that should give us all confidence in our country’s stability and future.”
