David Cameron quits: PM Theresa May says she 'was proud to work' with him

Former chancellor George Osborne called him a 'great friend', while ex-Cabinet minister Ken Clarke said he will go down in history as the man 'who accidentally caused Britain to leave the EU'.
Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
Francesca Gillett13 September 2016
WEST END FINAL

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Prime Minister Theresa May said she was "proud to serve" in David Cameron's government following his resignation today.

Mr Cameron today quit as MP in his constituency, announcing he is to go and work in the City.

While Mrs May praised his leadership for "achieving great things", former Cabinet minister Ken Clarke called Mr Cameron "the man who accidentally caused Britain to leave the European Union".

The former Prime Minister said he had “thought long and hard” over the summer and decided it was impossible to serve as a mere backbencher as he would be “a distraction”.

His resignation will be with immediate effect and has triggered a by-election in a safe Tory seat of Witney, Oxfordshire.

Stefan Wermuth/Reuters

This evening Theresa May said in a statement: "I was proud to serve in David Cameron’s Government – and under his leadership we achieved great things.

"Not just stabilising the economy, but also making great strides in delivering serious social reform.

"His commitment to lead a one nation Government is one that I will continue – and I thank him for everything he has done for the Conservative party and the country.

"I wish him and his family well for the future."

George Osborne said: "Sorry to see my great friend David Cameron stepping down - he loved being Witney's MP; I know how difficult this decision has been for him.

"We came into Parliament together, had a great partnership and I will miss him alongside me on the green benches over the coming years. Sad day."

Former Cabinet minister Ken Clarke said he was "disappointed" by Mr Cameron's decision but said the "chickens came home to roost" after the referendum.

He told BBC News: "I'm a friend of David's, so I regret to say, I think for history his legacy will be he's the man who accidentally caused Britain to leave the European Union.

"There's no getting away from the fact that that will overshadow every other feature of his premiership."

Labour leadership contender Owen Smith said: "David Cameron's legacy will be a country left reeling after six years of failed Tory austerity."

Former No 10 communications director Sir Craig Oliver said Mr Cameron did not want to be seen as a "back seat driver".

"He doesn't want to be the person that people go to cause disagreement or have disagreements with the Government."

"For him duty and loyalty and wanting the Conservative Party to succeed, wanting the Conservative Prime Minister to succeed, wanting Britain to succeed is very important to him and he doesn't want any sense in which he is standing in the way of that or appears to have a gripe or a problem about that."

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he wished David Cameron "all the best for the future", adding he got on well with him on a "human level".

The Treasury confirmed that Mr Cameron had been appointed to the office of Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead, the arcane method by which MPs resign from the House of Commons.

The post carries no salary or responsibilities, but as a Crown appointment renders the holder ineligible to sit as an MP.

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