Sunak’s concession speech wtf?

[tamade]

“Today power will change hands in a peaceful and orderly manner”

Was their ever any doubt? Why say it? Was it a dig at Gordon Brown?

I just find it jarring.

I thought his speech was very dignified and respectful of Starmer coming into the position. I absolutely get people finding huge fault with the previous government but he’s handed over better than any previous party leader of late. No ‘poor me’, no ‘well good luck with the bed you’ve made’. Just acknowledged the want for change and not a ‘dig’ at anyone.

I assumed it was a dig at Trump.

Dig at Trump

Why would it be a dog at Gordon Brown? He remained PM whilst coalition negotiations were going on. It was a dig at Trump.

I considered that but if it’s a dig at Trump then (1) isn’t it a dig at America too and (2) how is it relevant to our sensible little island?

Hence jarring. FWIW the rest was ok well pitched etc

I thought it was a perfectly reasonable speech too and I am no fan of the man or his party. It must be a very difficult speech to do well considering the circumstances and I thought he made a decent job of it.
Though for me, the speeches of the incoming and outgoing Swindon MPs last night were the best of the election. I found them quite moving and it's not even where I live. (Though I didn't stay up all night so may have missed other good ones I guess.)

Oh calm down for goodness sake.

For someone who has got such a lot wrong, I thought he got his leaving speech right.

It's a dig at Trump to demonstate that this is how grownups deal with electoral defeat. It was a good thing.

I am glad Labour have won. However, I thought Rishi's speech was mostly very good (apart from the boasty bit into he middle). We should never take it for granted having an orderly change over of power.

I’m hardly a fan but agree it was a dignified speech, he carried himself well. No matter whether you agree with someone’s politics I think you can acknowledge that getting such a drubbing is going to be difficult. If anything there was a dig at Reform for being racist.

His speech in Swindon was excellent.

It's pointing out how fortunate we are to live in a country where politics is done without shooting people or violent disorder
fuck sake I'm glad he's going and he's done plenty wrong but what a dickish thing to attack him over

It’s relevant because the debacle Trump caused is a dangerous president, and therefore good to condemn it on the world stage and show that there is a better way. Also because the US system is, in large part, modelled on the U.K. system.

Reading far too much into it.

Probably the only genuinely honest thing they could say

His speech was very good 👏

Dig at Trump and possibly the French for the riots after Le Pen’s victory in stage 1 of the presidential election.

Exactly this! 👏

🙄

How is Palestine relevant to our Island? A non state who elected a proscribed terrorist organisation to government in 2006.

And yet people think it's relevant in our election.

Perhaps they've all forgotten we're no longer a colonial power and there is literally fuck all we can do about the middle East. We have no influence and haven't for decades.

It wasn't a "dig" at anyone. It was a man responding calmly and graciously to probably one of the most difficult moments in his entire life. You may not have wanted him to be PM, but at least do him the courtesy of respecting the dignified, decent way that he has left the job.

I think there's political turmoil around the world right now, look at France dropping candidates to stop the Rally Nationale winning, Trump's behaviour, countries like Russia where the leader has essentially extended their own term in office. A calm, orderly transition between governments isn't a given in all countries so it is worth highlighting as a positive.

He’s a twat. Trying to take credit for something that happens every time we change after an election…

This. I thought his speech was dignified and respectful of both his opposition and the will of the electorate. He's setting a tone for a more serious, stable era of politics I think. Lord knows we need it after what went before, and what's happening here in Europe and across the Atlantic.

I thought Hunt's speech was good, too and seemed to nod to needing unity now in the UK after all the division.

I voted Labour, by the way, and I've never voted Tory in my life. Sunak was the best of a very bad bunch.