FORMER Prime Minister Perry Christie has resigned as leader of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) with immediate effect.

Mr Christie made the announcement around 9pm while speaking at the PLP’s National General Council meeting at the party’s headquarters.

During a long and emotional speech, Mr Christie defended his previous term in office and the many initiatives implemented by his administration.

He told PLP supporters who are upset with the party’s crushing election loss that the party could rise from the ashes and “win again” just as it did in the elections of 1967 and 2002 “after coming back from a decimation of our members of Parliament”.

“As your leader, I accept full responsibility for our party’s defeat,” Mr Christie said, later adding that his conscience and other reasons dictated that he must resign as PLP leader.

“It is for me to bid you farewell as your leader,” Mr Christie said. “The time has come for me to move on. I wish to God that I could have helped more people . . . I tried my best . . .”

Mr Christie served as PLP leader since 1997. He represented the constituency of Centreville – which was also called Farm Road – since 1977, winning eight consecutive elections until losing his seat by four votes last week.