Focus on the BIG picture.
Tuesday, Sep 08, 2026

Rishi Sunak Resigns as Tory Leader and Prime Minister After Election Defeat

Sunak Apologizes and Announces Leadership Race Following Conservative Loss
Rishi Sunak apologized to the nation after the Conservative Party's historic election defeat, acknowledging voters' 'anger and disappointment' and their desire for change. Speaking outside 10 Downing Street, Sunak confirmed his resignation as prime minister, stating, 'I have given this job my all, but you have sent a clear signal that the government of the United Kingdom must change.' He also announced his intention to step down as Conservative leader once arrangements for selecting his successor are in place.

Sunak congratulated Keir Starmer on Labour’s landslide victory, highlighting the importance of supporting the new prime minister's successes. Labour won over 410 seats, marking a significant shift in UK politics. Sunak emphasized the need for the Conservative Party to rebuild and fulfill its role in opposition.

Reflecting on his tenure, Sunak cited achievements such as reducing inflation, lowering mortgage rates, and enhancing the UK's international standing. He expressed pride in being the UK's first British Asian prime minister and shared a personal moment of watching his daughters light Diwali candles at Downing Street.

Following his speech, Sunak went to Buckingham Palace for his final audience with the king. He pledged to remain an MP for the full term of the current parliament and expressed gratitude to his family for their support. The Conservative Party now faces a leadership contest with figures like Kemi Badenoch, Tom Tugendhat, and Robert Jenrick expected to vie for the position.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Investors Weigh Earnings, Fiscal Debate and Treasury Yields
Zheng Qinwen and Coco Gauff Advance at US Open in New York
US Senate Impeachment Court Pauses Hearings to Review Financial Records
NASA Completes Hot-Fire Tests for Next-Generation Deep-Space Propulsion
US Education Department Expands Funding for Community College Technical Training
FCC Tightens Rules Against Illegal Cross-Border Robocalls
Keith Sonderling Becomes Acting US Labor Secretary After Lori Chavez-DeRemer Resigns
US Security Envoy Begins South America Tour Focused on Drugs and Regional Cooperation
USDA Reports Worsening Drought Pressure on Midwest Corn and Soybean Crops
US Auto Safety Regulator Reviews Driver Assistance Systems in Electric Vehicles
EPA Finalizes New Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Trucks
US Tech Companies Announce Tens of Billions of Dollars in New Data Center Investment
US Justice Department Expands Civil Rights Scrutiny of Midwestern Police Departments
US Investigators Probe Cargo Plane Crash Landing at Miami International Airport
Federal Reserve Reports Persistent Consumer Credit and Commercial Property Pressure
Hawaii Raises Hurricane Preparedness as Lowell Approaches Islands
FBI Director Kash Patel Sues The Atlantic for $250 Million Over Published Claims
Iceland Summons US Ambassador Over Trump Social Media Map
Markwayne Mullin Takes Over Homeland Security After Senate Confirmation
Federal Judge Blocks Changes to US Childhood Immunization Schedule
Pentagon Designates Anthropic a Supply Chain Risk, Prompting Legal Challenge
Congress Averts US Government Shutdown With Funding Extension Through December 11
Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court to Reinstate Mail-In Voting Restrictions
Trump Threatens Bombardier With US Sales Ban Unless Aircraft Production Moves to America
Strait of Hormuz Disruptions Push US Gasoline Prices Above $4.15 a Gallon
US Issues New Residency Rules for Some Children of Foreign Government Employees
Japan’s Takaichi Plans Washington Summit With Trump Ahead of UN General Assembly
Legal Groups and Former Judges Expand Challenges to Trump Election Directives
Trump Plans Final-Month Campaign Push Across 35 Battleground House Districts
Congress Averts US Government Shutdown With Funding Extension Through December 11
Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court to Reinstate Mail-In Voting Restrictions Before Midterms
UN General Assembly Opens 81st Session With Reform and Leadership Succession in Focus
Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau Eruption Disrupts Flights Across Southeast Asia
Global Bond Selloff Deepens as Sovereign Borrowing Costs Reach Multi-Decade Highs
UN Human Rights Chief Warns Unregulated AI Could Pose Existential Risk to Humanity
Sudan Fighting Intensifies as Attacks on Civilian Infrastructure Deepen Humanitarian Crisis
Russian Drone Strikes Ukraine Security Service Headquarters in Central Kyiv
US Strikes Iranian Revolutionary Guard Targets After Strait of Hormuz Maritime Clashes
USDA Launches Emergency Drought Relief for Midwestern Farmers
U.S. Education Department Proposes Clearer College Aid and Loan Disclosures
U.S. Health Department Updates Guidance for Fall Flu and RSV Season
U.S. Labor Board Reports Rise in Union Organizing Across Service Industries
Wall Street Ends Mixed After Volatile Week of Inflation and Energy Concerns
U.S. Updates Global Travel Advisories as International Security Risks Rise
NASA Completes Key Artemis Hardware Tests Ahead of Future Crewed Missions
EPA Tightens National Air Pollution Standards for Industrial Facilities
Leon Panetta Warns U.S. Could Face Prolonged Middle East Conflict
Justice Department Sues Kansas City Schools Over Transgender Student Policies
U.S. Airlines Cut Schedules as Fuel Costs and Airspace Restrictions Rise
Congress and White House Open Budget Talks to Avert Federal Shutdown
×