Sunak’s concession speech wtf?

Agreed. Finally he took responsibility (I’m thinking of his no.10 leaving speech), which is in stark contrast to Johnson and Truss who showed breathtaking arrogance when faced with failure or defeat. And they had more to take responsibility for than Sunak.

I thought he echoed Cyril Ramapoza. The people have spoken. They are the one who matter, they (we) are in charge.

I'm no lover of sunak or his party, but I thought it a dignified and gracious speech, as a departing PM should make.

I also thought Kier s was gracious acknowledging the effort Sunak has had to put in to rise to this position.

we should be happy that we, as a country, can hand over power with no rioting in the streets, just a calm acceptance that sometimes, public opinion may disagree with our own opinion. And that's ok, even if we think it's mistaken.

just because I believe the country got it right this time, doesn't mean I didn't accept the number of times I believed they got it wrong. Of course I did. All the way through the Thatcher years, and in to that degenerate (in my view) Johnson.

we are lucky in this, at least for now, that we can and do accept a PM that is supported by a majority in the country, even when (maybe particularly when) we personally didn't vote for that party.

I thought it was a dig at Trump's pretty embarrassing tantrum at being voted out.

I have never voted Conservative but I thought Sunak's speech was quite dignified, really. Johnson could have learned a thing or two from it, too.

ive just got back from America, on polling day, they were impressed with the decorum and dignity in which things were handled in Britain and were actually saying on the news, “that’s how it should be done”. So no, it wasn’t jarring it was viewed as the right way to behave!

The thing I remember about Gordon Brown leaving is the picture of him, his wife and little boys walking down Downing St holding hands. It wasn't exactly a violent insurrection.

Yes, it’s sad that we need to think that but it’s true. The attack on the Capitol showed us that.

I thought the speech was very impressive - and I didn’t vote for him.

And how did Johnson depart? With a shallow swipes at those who questioned his lack of probity and honesty with self-centred childish ‘Them’s the breaks’ and ‘Hasta la vista’

Freedom of expression and freedom to elect a government are rights that not everyone around the world enjoys.

We need to be reminded of that.

Trump is NOT America and don't fall for that dangerous equivalence.

@Threewordseightletters was that what Farage said? I thought he said Rishi didn’t understand D Day because he was disconnected as a result of class and privilege. Farage went out of his way to highlight the number of soldiers from commonwealth countries who lost their lives in WWII and explicitly said it had nothing to do with his Indian heritage (I am not a Farage fan!!).

The disgusting scenes at Jess Phillips’ vote count show there is a significant minority of people who have no respect for democracy so imo Rishi was absolutely right to highlight it.

I too think it was a rejoinder to Reform and Farage of Rishi's own patriotism and love for British democracy after the disgraceful way Farage suggested he didn't understand D Day and British cultural history as his grandparents were born in another country. My grandparents too were born outside the UK, in Ireland, but because I'm white no one will ever say to me that I'm not 'properly' British. However this is not the case if you are black or have Asian heritage. Racists like those in Reform will insinuate you are not.

Oh I see, sorry i thought you were meaning against Sunak. I see what you're saying now. It actually didn't though, if you add the seats up, Conservatives still wouldn't have had enough. It was a labour landslide, and rightly so imo. Sunak had no chance of staying regardless.

And yes, reform are vile, it is extremely worrying that there are so many who voted for them. Holly Valance is huge supporter, there was a thread quite recently on that. Farage need to crawl back into which ever hole he has came from, and remain!

where have I suggested this is the reason why Sunak isn’t still PM

we can’t ingnore why many people are voting for Reform it’s because they are racist

I agree.

One of the best things Rishi did during his time at number ten, is call this election, and accept the Tory party defeat in a dignified manner.

His speech was what he should have been like the last 18 months. Instead, he continued the Boris/Trump routine of bullish lying, attacking, dividing and more lying. I think things could have been different if he tried to be decent. His exit speech suggests he knows this.

I didn't actually mind the boasty bit in the middle. I'd do the same to try and claw back some dignity. What a shit show his reign has been.

Someone like him should therefore be drawn to a party that encourages social mobility. That is the opposite of what the Tories are

Well yes, but I prefer not to specify. As my family background is fairly clearly laid out.

It was the behaviour of the party! The same thing would have had happened to a white man. I have Indian relatives, and they wanted him out ffs. People wanted change after 14 years of driving the country into the ground.

Surely you went to one or the other?

I agree

to many he simply didn't know his place

Probably the only time he's been so sincere.

I agree, I think quiet racism played a part in Sunak's defeat (alongside the poor behaviour of Truss and Johnson in particular).

I get the impression that, despite having been a Brexiteering Tory and previously a finance vulture, Sunak has a lot of decency and a desire to do the right thing by whatever his lights are.

Well his parents were a doctor and a pharmacist so middle class occupations and affluent enough to send him to board at Winchester College where fees nowadays would be 50k per child per annum. Not suggesting they didn't work hard but lots of people are hard working.

His was a priviledged background, no two ways about it.

Seemed dignified, unlike the behaviour of Liz Truss at her count, for example, deliberately being late it seemed.

If it was a dig at Trump then no bad thing.