Aresignation speech is aspeech made by a public figure uponresigning from office.
Resigning speeches can have considerable political effect for a number of reasons:
The resignation of a senior politician is normally an important, sometimes historic, event. As such, resignation speeches often command unusually high public interest and media attention;
The exiting politician can take this opportunity to enumerate reasons for their resignation and perhaps to defend their reputation (see Richard M Nixon's 1974 speech below);
Resigning public figures, particularly politicians, are freed from the constraints ofcabinet collective responsibility and constitutional protocol and can voice their opinions with greater independence, for these or other reasons (see the opening paragraph of King Edward VIII's 1936 abdication speech below);
The circumstances of a resignation often cast light on the activities or policies of an incumbent government. A resigning minister can cause significant political damage to an administration or to an individual colleague (see Geoffrey Howe's 1990 speech below).
1995 - British Prime MinisterJohn Major resigns as Leader of theConservative Party in order to contest a leadership election with the aim of silencing his internal critics and reasserting his authority. In his speech he famously told his opponents within to 'put up or shut up'. The gambit paid off, and Major was re-elected.Text of this speech.
2010 - UKPrime MinisterGordon Brown resigns from office after he led his Labour Party to its worst electoral defeat in 27 years, despite no party winning an overall majority in the2010 General Election. Constitutionally, this gave him the option to remain as Prime Minister until a new government could be formed, however, it soon became clear that the Liberal Democrats were instead going to form a coalition government with the Conservative Party. This resignation proved significant as it brought to an end 13 years of 'New Labour' governmentText of speech.
