Cameron making his announcement this morning with his wife by his side at 10, Downing Street. (Photo: Reuters)
Cameron making his announcement this morning with his wife, Samantha, by his side at 10, Downing Street. (Photo: Reuters)

British Prime Minister, David Cameron has announced that he will leave power in three months following the UK’s referendum decision to exit the European Union. After notifying the Queen of his decision this morning, a sad Cameron held a press briefing outside 10, Downing Street where he expressed his beliefs:

“I held nothing back. I was absolutely clear about my belief that Britain is stronger, safer and better off inside the EU. And I mean 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.

Cameron has explained his aim for staying till October saying: “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.”

The PM’s suggestion that the Conservative Party should provide his successor has made many people to look in the direction of the former Mayor of London, Boris Johnson who spearheaded the LEAVE campaign as the obvious candidate.

“Delivering stability will be important. And I will continue in post as Prime Minister with my cabinet for the next three months. The negotiation with the EU will need to begin under a new Prime Minister and I think it is right this new Prime Minister takes the decision about when to trigger Article 50 and start the formal and legal process of leaving the EU.

“The British people have made a choice that not only needs to be respected but those on the losing side of the argument, myself included, should help to make it work. Britain is a special country, we have so many great advantages – a Parliamentary democracy where we resolve great issues about our future through peaceful debate.

“A great trading nation with our science and arts, our engineering and creativity, respected the world over, and while we are not perfect, I do believe we can be a model of a multi-racial, multi-faith democracy where people can come and make a contribution and rise to the very highest their talent allows. Although leaving Europe was not the path I recommended, I am the first to praise our incredible strengths. I have said before Britain can survive outside the EU and indeed that we could find a way.

“Now the decision has been made to leave, we need to find the best way. I will do everything I can to help. I love this country, and I feel honoured to have served it and I will do everything I can in future to help this great country succeed.”