Scott Morrison resigns as leader after election bloodbath for Liberal Party

Scott Morrison has resigned as leader of the Liberal Party after shocking election results, as Anthony Albanese prepares to become the nation’s next Prime Minister.

Scott Morrison has conceded defeat and announced he will quit the Liberal leadership, declaring he accepts the verdict of voters.

The Prime Minister said today he would stand down as leader but that he plans to remain as the Member for Cook for now.

”To my colleagues tonight, who have had to deal with very difficult news, and have lost their seats tonight, I as leader take responsibility for the wins and the losses,’’ he said.

”That is the burden and that is the responsibility of leadership.

“As a result I will be handing over the leadership at the next party room meeting to ensure the party can be taken forward under new leadership which is the appropriate thing to do.

“I’ve had the great privilege to lead this great party and lead this great nation.”

However, Mr Morrison said he planned to stay in parliament and three years from now he “looked forward” to the re-election of a Liberal Government.

Scott Morrison has conceded defeat and resigned from the leadership of the Liberal Party after an election bloodbath.

The Prime Minister was seen getting into a car following a devastating night for the Liberal Party, with the Coalition now unable to form a majority government.

Mr Morrison, who was first elected Prime Minister on August 24, 2018, left Kirribilli House shortly after 10:32pm with his wife Jenny Morrison.

Speaking at the Sofitel Hotel in Sydney shortly after, Mr Morrison declared he “accepts the verdict” of Australian voters and conceded Labor leader Anthony Albanese had won the election.

Shortly after 10:45pm, the Prime Minister offered his congratulations to the Labor leader as a man shouted from the crowds “you’ve done us proud!”.

Mr Morrison appeared with his wife and two daughters. Picture: Nine News

“I’ve spoken to the leader of the opposition and the incoming Prime Minister Anthony Albanese,’’ Mr Morrison said.

“I congratulate Anthony Albanese and the Labor Party and I wish him and his government all the very best.

“Now there are many votes still to count, that is true.

“But I believe it’s very important that this country has certainty. I think it’s very important that this country can move forward.

“I think it is important for our nation to heal and to move forward.

“But at the same time, three years ago I stood before you, and I said I believed in miracles. I still believe in miracles. I still believe in miracles as I always have. And the biggest miracles, as I said three years ago, were standing beside me and here they are again tonight with Jenny.”

Mr Morrison said he wanted to concede to ensure there was “certainty”. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

The former Prime Minister said he still believed in miracles, referencing his family instead of a shock election win this time. Picture: Nine News

Mr Morrison said Australians had endured a great deal over the course of the pandemic.

“There’s another great miracle I want to give thanks for tonight and that’s the miracle of the Australian people,’’ he said.

“What Australians have endured over these past few years has shown a tremendous depth of character and resilience.

“We hand over this country as a government in a stronger position than we left it than we inherited it when we came to government those years ago under Tony Abbott.”

While Morrison is expected to stand down as leader, there’s a question over who will replace him with Treasurer Josh Frydenberg all but conceding he was likely to lose his seat.

Mr Frydenberg paid tribute to the Prime Minister flanked by his wife Amie just minutes earlier.

“To be the deputy leader of our party has been an enormous privilege and to serve as Scott Morrison’s deputy, a person of great decency, a person who loves his family, a person who is of deep faith and a person who has shown extraordinary leadership in extraordinary time,’’ he said.

“So I thank Scott Morrison for what he has done for our country to leave Australia in a stronger position than when he found it.”

Mr Frydenberg isn’t the only Liberal frontbencher who risks being swept from parliament.

Josh Frydenberg conceded he had lost his seat in a tearful speech earlier in the night. Picture: Nine News

Defence Minister Peter Dutton, who came close to losing the seat he had held since 2001, said it was a “terrible day” for the Liberal Party.

“We have, as a Liberal family, suffered a terrible day today,’’ he said.

“And there are colleagues around the country, good people, who have potentially lost their seats. There are still thousands and thousands of postal votes and pre-poll votes to count. So there’s some hope in some of those seats. In many, the race is very tight.

“I want to acknowledge the pain they’re going through tonight, their families, their supporters.”

Housing Minister Michael Sukkar, whose super for houses policy was hailed as a vote winner is facing a tough fight to retain the seat of Deakin.

Education Minister Alan Tudge has also suffered a savage swing in the seat of Aston, but looks set to hang on.

Albanese speaks after Morrison concedes defeat

Addressing the media pack as he left his Marrickville home to head for a celebratory event at the Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL with partner Jodie Haydon, Mr Albanese said the win was an “incredible honour”.

“I want to unite people. People want to come together, look for common interest, look towards the sense of common purpose,” he said.

“I think people have had enough of division. What they want is to come together as a nation, and I intend to lead that.”

Anthony Albanese (with Penny Wong, partner Jodie Haydon and son Haydon) said the win was an “incredible honour”

Mr Albanese then headed off to address his crowd of exuberant supporters – including son Nathan and ex-wife and former Deputy Premier of NSW Carmel Tebbutt – who had gathered at the venue in his electorate of Grayndler in Sydney’s inner west.

An emotional Mr Albanese took to the stage amid chants of “Albo, Albo”, and immediately thanked Australia for the “extraordinary honour”.

“Tonight the Australian people have voted for change. I am humbled by this victory. And I am honoured to be given the opportunity to serve as the 31st Prime Minister of Australia,” he said.

“My Labor team will work every day to bring Australians together. And I will lead a government worthy of the people of Australia. A government as courageous and hardworking and caring as the Australian people are themselves.”

He thanked Mr Morrison for his “gracious” congratulations and for his service, before acknowledging his own humble beginnings.

“My fellow Australians, it says a lot about our great country that a son of a single mum who was a disability pensioner, who grew up in public housing down the road in Camperdown, can stand before you tonight as Australia’s Prime Minister,” he said.

“During this campaign I have put forward a positive, clear plan for a better future for our country. And I have shared the two principles that will a government that I lead. No-one left behind because we should always look after the disadvantaged and the vulnerable.“But also no-one held back, because we should always support aspiration and opportunity.”

Originally published as Scott Morrison resigns as leader after election bloodbath for Liberal Party