David Cameron has announced his resignation as Prime Minister after the historic EU referendum delivered clear backing for Brexit. The Prime Minister said he accepted the verdict of the 'great democratic exercise' which saw the Leave campaign triumph after stacking up 52 per cent of the votes - despite massive support for Remain in Scotland and major cities
including London.
Mr Cameron said he had been 'proud' to serve as PM for the past six years.
But he said it would not be right for him to be the 'captain of the ship' while the UK negotiated its exit from the EU.
'I held nothing back. I was absolutely clear about my belief that Britain is stronger, safer and better off inside the EU,' he said.
‘And I made clear the referendum was about this and this alone – not the future of any single politician including myself.
‘But the British people have made a very clear decision to take a different path and as such I think the country requires fresh leadership to take it in this direction.’
Choking back tears, Mr Cameron - who led the Tories to a shock majority in the general election barely a year ago - said he would not depart immediately and would seek to calm the markets over the coming 'weeks and months'.
But he said a new Prime Minister should be in place for the Conservative Party conference in October. Boris Johnson, who led the Brexit campaign, will be the overwhelming favourite to take over.
'I will do everything I can as Prime Minister to steady the ship over the coming weeks and months but I do not think it would be right for me to try to be the captain that steers our country to its next destination,' he said.
‘This is not a decision I have taken lightly but I do believe it is in the national interest to have a period of stability and then the new leadership required.
‘There is no need for a precise timetable today but in my view we should aim to have a new Prime Minister in place by the start of the Conservative Party conference in October.’- Daily Mail
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