In the Commons, Conservative MPs rose as one to applaud Mr Cameron at the end of his 182nd PMQs session as prime minister, as did former Lib Dem Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.
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Bidding farewell to his time in office, the Prime Minster said he will be eagerly watching from the backbenches and paid tribute to the work and idealism of politicians across the political divide.
Then the newly elected Conservative opposition leader, he taunted embattled Labour prime minister Tony Blair: “I want to talk about the future”. Because people come here with huge passion for the issues they care about, they come here with great love for the constituencies that they represent.
“Yes we can be pretty tough and test and challenge our leaders – perhaps more than some other countries – but that is something we should be proud of, and we should keep at it. You have kept me vaguely sane”.
“And the rumour that somehow I don’t love Larry, I do”. During the friendly session Wednesday he was praised for helping to reduce unemployment, fund the National Health Service and improve educational opportunities. “Nothing is really impossible if you put your mind to it”.
“That said, when the Tories came to power in 2010, corporation tax was 28 per cent but by the time Stormont gets to set the rate at an expected 12.5 per cent, the overall United Kingdom rate may have dropped as low as 15 per cent – leaving a differential of just 2.5 per cent”.
Earlier, Mr Cameron told the Telegraph he came into Downing Street to “lead people through hard decisions so together we could reach better times”, adding “as I leave today, I hope people will see a stronger country, a thriving economy, and more chances to get on in life”. Cameron’s wife Samantha and their children were in the front row of the public gallery for the event.
Mr Cameron said Mr Corbyn reminded him of the Black Knight from Monty Python And The Holy Grail, noting: “He’s been kicked so many times but he says “Keep going, it’s only a flesh wound”.
The question of whether to Remain or Leave has also concerned Larry the Cat – who has been a familiar presence since he moved into the prime minister’s residence five years ago.
“Sadly I can’t take Larry with me, he belongs to the house and the staff love him very much, as do I”, he said, addressing mischievous social media gossip that the cat and Cameron did not get on.
Ulster Unionist Danny Kinahan had the first slot in Mr Cameron’s final Question Time.
“There’s the England football team, there’s Top Gear, there’s even across the big pond a role that needs filling”.
Its not been an easy journey and of course we have not got every decision right, but I do believe that today our country is much stronger, Cameron said.
Former Culture Secretary Maria Miller rejected suggestions that Mr Cameron’s legacy would be totally defined by the decision to leave the European Union, saying that while this seemed “a very big part of the political bubble” now, other achievements would endure. Observers are keen to see if she appoints former London Mayor Boris Johnson or Justice Secretary Michael Gove to new jobs.
“I am very sad he chose to step down as Prime Minister but I understand his reasons and believe he has been hugely successful as our head of national government and as our local MP”.
“This session does have some admirers around the world”. “No one had a clue who I was until eventually someone said, ‘Hey!”
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Week after week, defending his record at prime minister’s questions, Mr Cameron cited the rate of employment, which has risen steadily over the past few years.
