Rishi Sunak’s Apologies and Keir Starmer’s First Steps as Prime Minister
In the wake of last week’s dismal general election results for the Conservative Party, former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been dedicating his time to making personal calls to the party’s candidates who lost their parliamentary seats. This effort by Sunak comes as part of his attempt to apologize for what has been described as the Conservative Party's most catastrophic electoral performance in recent memory, where they ended up with only 121 seats in the House of Commons.
Sunak’s Personal Apology to Unseated Candidates
Over the weekend, Sunak reached out to several former members of Parliament, offering them a heartfelt apology for the party’s failure at the ballot box. According to reports from ‘The Daily Telegraph,’ these calls were described by recipients as “very sympathetic,” reflecting Sunak’s sincere regret over the party's performance. Despite having successfully retained his own seat in Richmond and Northallerton in Yorkshire, Sunak remains in the role of Leader of the Opposition until a successor is elected by the Conservative Party.
The 44-year-old politician had already expressed his apologies in a formal farewell speech delivered at 10 Downing Street on Friday. During this speech, Sunak not only apologized to his colleagues and the nation but also announced his resignation as leader of the Conservative Party following the Labour Party’s sweeping victory, which saw them win 411 out of 650 seats in the House of Commons.
One of the former MPs who received a call from Sunak recounted, “He took the time to ring me on a Saturday night and I think he’s taken the time to ring other MPs as well. He was calling to express how deeply sorry he was that I had lost my seat.” In his public address, Sunak stated, “To all the Conservative candidates and campaigners who worked tirelessly but without success, I am truly sorry that we could not deliver the results that your hard work and dedication deserved.”
The Race to Replace Sunak: Potential Contenders
As Sunak steps down from his position as leader, the race to select his successor is heating up. Behind the scenes, several prominent figures within the Conservative Party are working to secure support for their bids to become the new leader. Among the frontrunners is former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who has been vocal in her criticisms of Sunak’s leadership. However, her campaign has faced an early setback as one of her key supporters defected to support Robert Jenrick, a former colleague from the Home Office.
Other potential candidates for the leadership position include former Home Secretaries Priti Patel and James Cleverly, as well as former Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch. Additionally, former ministers from Sunak’s cabinet, such as Victoria Atkins and Tom Tugendhat, are also expected to consider entering the race as the Conservative Party’s 1922 Committee prepares to organize the election of the new party leader.
Keir Starmer’s First Actions as Prime Minister
Meanwhile, Keir Starmer, who has just begun his term as the new Prime Minister, spent his first weekend in office travelling across various regions of the United Kingdom, starting with Scotland. This regional tour marks the beginning of his efforts to set the tone for his Labour government’s approach to both domestic and international affairs.
Following his visit to Scotland, Starmer is scheduled to embark on his inaugural international trip as Prime Minister, heading to Washington D.C. for a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) summit. This visit is aimed at establishing a productive relationship with US President Joe Biden’s administration and fostering connections with other key international allies.
On Saturday, during this period of transition, Starmer also held a significant conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two leaders discussed the potential for a Free Trade Agreement between the two nations, with both expressing a willingness to work towards a deal that would be beneficial for both sides. A Downing Street spokesperson provided details on this conversation, stating, “In the call, the Prime Minister emphasized his readiness to finalize a trade agreement that works for both parties. The leaders expressed their hope to meet in person at the earliest opportunity to further these discussions.”
