On Friday, July 5, 2024, Rishi Sunak resigned as the prime minister of Great Britain after conceding defeat in the elections.
Even before Labour passed the 326 mark in the House of Commons, which would have given it a majority, Sunak phoned Sir Keir Starmer, Labour's leader, and congratulated him on his party's victory.
Thursday's defeat brought down the curtain on 14 years of Conservative government.
Sir Keir is Labour's seventh prime minister.
'I have heard your anger, disappointment and I take responsibility for this loss,' Sunak said in his brief speech at 10, Downing Street.
Sunak spoke for about four minutes, with his wife, Akshata Murty, looking on. He said he would step down as leader of the Conservative party, but not immediately.
In his first remarks at 10, Downing Street after becoming the United Kingdom's 58th prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer hailed Sunak's achievement as Britain's first Asian prime minister and noted the 'extra effort that that will have required'.
The new prime minister also praised the 'dedication and hard work' Sunak brought to his leadership. Such grace, sadly missing in our politics.
The monarch then calls the victor in the election and invites him to form the next government.
That quaint ritual marks the next prime minister's appointment. Zero shoo-sha. Photograph: Hannah McKay/Reuters
Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com
Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com