Following a major defeat for Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Party, Keir Starmer’s Labour Party is poised to take over in the UK, ending a 14-year Conservative reign. Sunak will soon leave his post at Number 10 Downing Street and return to his constituency in Richmond Northallerton. Unlike the US, where transitions can be lengthy, UK Prime Ministers traditionally resign the day after elections. Sunak is expected to step down as both Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader soon after the election results.
The transition process begins promptly once election outcomes are clear. It involves detailed discussions between the outgoing government and the incoming party. Typically, the defeated Prime Minister acknowledges defeat to the Leader of the Opposition and delivers a farewell speech at Number 10 before visiting Buckingham Palace. Removal vans are a common sight outside Downing Street after elections as belongings are moved out.
Despite owning several properties across the country, Sunak’s move out of Number 10, where he lived with his wife Akshata Murty from 2022, is a big change. While serving as Chancellor under Boris Johnson, he divided his time between official and private residences. Moving out of Number 10 will require adjusting logistics.
Larry the Cat, Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office since 2011, will remain at Downing Street, unaffected by political changes. As Sunak prepares to leave, Starmer’s Labour Party is preparing to take over leadership, continuing the tradition of swift political transitions in the UK.