The comments made by Jack Abbott, the Labour MP for Ipswich, on 22 June 2026.
My statement on the Prime Minister’s resignation:
I am deeply disappointed that the Prime Minister has stood down, less than two years after leading the Labour Party to a landslide victory, which returned our Party to Government for the first time in a generation.
In truth, ‘disappointed’ is a gross understatement. The inheritance left to the Prime Minister, our Party, and our country, was utterly appalling. Our economy was in pieces, every public service was on its knees, we had stopped building, the next generation had a poorer future than the one before it, our society had split at the seams, and we had became totally attuned to trying to deal with crises, rather than doing the things needed to prevent them.
The Prime Minister set us on a different path, stabilising the economy despite the international headwinds, cutting NHS waiting lists and investing in crucial infrastructure once again. On the world stage, he was the statesman we needed in times of geopolitical instability, and his decisions will lift hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty.
For places like Ipswich and Suffolk, the Prime Minister has laid the foundations for us to rebuild from. Sizewell C has already delivering hundreds of jobs, with many more to come. Pride in Place funding will invest in and transform our communities. Our new Community Diagnostic Centre will come online next year. Bus services have had their biggest upgrade for nearly 30 years. Crime rates are at their lowest level for a decade.
That doesn’t mean to say that our work is finished, far from it, but the Prime Minister should have had the chance to complete the job.
Governing is hard, and it is perhaps harder than ever before. That doesn’t mean to say that other Prime Ministers haven’t had to face seismic challenges before, of course they have, but now the intensity is relentless, patience is in short supply, and we are in an era of constant volatility. What will be seven Prime Ministers in 10 years underlines that. We all must reflect properly, and know that we have to be better at navigating the tough moments, not succumb to them. If we don’t, governing won’t simply be hard – it will be impossible.
On a personal level, I cannot begin to imagine the sacrifices that Sir Keir and his family have made while he has been Prime Minister, and the Leader of the Labour Party. He cares so deeply about our country, and gave everything to serve it. He is thoroughly decent, has carried himself with real grace and dignity, and leaves a legacy for our Party and our country that will be felt for years to come.
I will remain forever grateful for his leadership that changed our Party, and returned us to Government. That leadership meant that I have the privilege of serving Ipswich, and I will continue to work every day for the town I love, my home.
The Prime Minister’s speech was typically decent of him, as was his promise to support a transition to a new leader in the best interests of our Party and our country. After that, I hope he is afforded quality time and space to be with his family because they all richly deserve it.