Many expected the Leave campaign to lose, but against all expectations, they won.
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“In voting to leave the European Union it is vital that there is now no need for haste and indeed as the Prime Minister has just said, nothing will change over the short term”.
His sudden decision to step down, which many thought inevitable given the surprise outcome of the in-out EU Referendum, comes only a year after he led his Conservative Party to a surprise parliamentary majority.
He said: “We can not turn our backs on Europe”.
Once it is triggered, Britain would no longer be able to take part in any EU decision-making, and any exit agreements must be approved by all 27 remaining EU nations and the European parliament.
Speaking in Downing Street yesterday in front of dozens of journalists from around the world, with staff from neighbouring Whitehall departments looking on through gates and fences, Mr Cameron’s voice broke with emotion as he said: “I love this country, and I feel honoured to have served it”. It is the essence of our case that young people in this country can look forward to a more secure and more prosperous future, if we take back the democratic control which is the foundation of our economic prosperity.
Some 1,285 bosses who together employ 1.75 million people have signed a letter to The Times newspaper appealing for voters not to risk the job prospects of their children and grandchildren.
While voters elected politicians to take hard decisions, he said, “this year we gave them the biggest and toughest question of all”.
Some people are now saying that was wrong and the people should never have been asked.
“There is no way to have dealt with a decision of this scale except by putting it to the people. And I think that the electorate have searched in their hearts and answered as honestly as they can”.
Boris Johnson, the flamboyant former mayor of London, is not known for being modest or soft-spoken.
Uxbridge and South Ruislip MP Johnson said: “I want to begin by paying tribute to David Cameron”.
Mr Blunt, who had campaigned for the Leave camp, also told the Mirror he is disappointed David Cameron has announced his resignation, but backed Leave figurehead Boris Johnson as the clear choice to replace him.
“It was his bravery that gave this country the first European Union referendum in 41 years”.
He promised the British public that Brexit would be implemented “calmly, co-operatively and consensually”, declaring the United Kingdom is “open for business, open to trade, open to other cultures, open to the world”.
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With his wife Samantha at his side, a stoic Cameron said he is not the correct “captain” to steer Britain through its upcoming negotiations over breaking away from the EU.
