'Collapse' of UK Conservative Party, 'Post-Sunak' Uncertainty... Next Leadership Race Ignites

The Worst Record in 190 Years Since Party Founding
Sunak Faces Dishonorable Resignation Crisis After 1 Year and 8 Months

In the UK general election results, the ruling Conservative Party fell to the opposition after 14 years. As evaluations suggest that a reconstruction on the scale of re-founding is necessary to regain the turned public sentiment, a difficult road ahead is expected.

In the UK general election held on the 4th (local time), the Conservative Party secured fewer seats than one-third of the Labour Party out of the total 650 seats in the House of Commons, with exit polls indicating the worst performance in 190 years since its founding. The 'unlikely' predicted by pre-election polls was confirmed as 'fact.'

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's gamble of an early election in May, which was close to a surprise move aiming for a turnaround, did not work, and rather, responsibility was followed as various controversies and scandals that arose during the campaign period only caused more losses.

Sunak acknowledged the Conservative Party's crushing defeat in the general election, saying, "The Labour Party has won. I called Leader Keir Starmer to congratulate him on his victory." He continued, "I am sorry," adding, "The British people made a sober judgment tonight, and there is much to learn. I will take responsibility for the defeat." Sunak also emphasized, "Today, power will be transferred in a peaceful and orderly manner under the goodwill of all parties involved. That should give us all confidence in the nation's stability and future."

[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

Longtime political veterans who have supported the Conservative Party for a long time could not keep silent at the exit poll results predicting the Conservative Party's defeat. Ruth Davidson, former leader of the Scottish Conservative Party, expressed outrage to Sky News, saying, "There is no need to sugarcoat it. This is a massacre." Robert Buckland, former Secretary of State for Justice, who lost in his Swindon constituency that day, targeted fellow politicians in an interview with BBC, saying, "I am tired of performance art politics."

US CNN pointed out that "the Conservative Party's disastrous campaign has brought the party to the brink of its worst defeat ever." In particular, when Prime Minister Sunak returned early from France, where the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings was commemorated on the 6th of last month for election campaigning, criticism of his historical awareness poured in locally.

Sunak, who will step down as Prime Minister that afternoon, is also expected to resign as party leader. Having emerged in the spotlight as the first Indian-origin 'leader in his 40s' in October 2022, he now faces a disgraceful resignation threat after about 1 year and 8 months. Amid the surge of 'responsibility' calls for Sunak inside and outside the party, if he steps down as party leader, a competition for the 'post-Sunak' leadership position is expected to ignite immediately.

The UK daily Telegraph noted, "After leading his party to a historic defeat, Sunak will face tremendous pressure to resign as Conservative Party leader," adding, "This will set the stage for a leadership battle within the party during this summer." AP News also forecasted, "The Conservative Party is exhausted and plunged into chaos due to this general election defeat," and "The election results are expected to trigger a competition to replace Sunak as party leader."