Rishi Sunak reportedly to step down as Conservative leader

Rishi Sunak is set to resign as the Tory leader as his party faces a devastating defeat at the 2024 General Election.

Labour is forecast to have a 170-seat majority in the Commons, with the Conservatives reduced to their lowest number of MPs on record. If the results indicated by an exit poll are accurate, Rishi Sunak’s term as Prime Minister will end in electoral disaster, with Nigel Farage’s Reform UK establishing a foothold in Parliament and the Liberal Democrats forecast to make significant gains.

And on the back of the expected defeat, it is now being reported that Rishi Sunak will step down as leader of the Conservative Party. It is understood Mr Sunak is likely to hold on to his seat in Richmond and Northallerton in North Yorkshire.

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Tim Shipman, of the Sunday Times, told Times Radio he thinks Sunak will resign on Friday, a day after the election, which is set to be a Labour landslide.

Mr Sunak had earlier suggested he would not quit if the Tories lost - but the size of the loss may force his hand. Asked by the BBC's Chris Mason if he would remain an MP for the whole of the next parliament, regardless of the election result, Sunak replied: "Yes. I love my constituents, I love serving them. You know that was my day job and … you know how passionate I am about our life and my home in north Yorkshire."

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