“This Thursday, I believe the British people have spoken up for democracy”, Johnson said, “and I think we should be very proud of the result”.
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“It causes major damage to both sides, but in first line to the United Kingdom”, said Manfred Weber, who represents German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s political group in the European Parliament.
He said: “The British people have voted to leave the European Union and their will must be respected”.
Johnson, who thanked Cameron for holding the referendum, said he agreed with that there is no need to immediately invoke Article 50, the law that needs to be enacted to start negotiations to leave the EU.
The downbeat press conference reflected a decision by the victorious Vote Leave campaign to try to calm the collapse of the financial markets as the magnitude of the political and economic repercussions unfold.
Merryman says he expects Prime Minister David Cameron to resign soon. Now, the British leader’s closest rival – in the European Union referendum, in the Conservative Party and in the country – is the frontrunner to take his job.
Once triggered, there is a two-year period in which the terms of the leaver’s exit are negotiated.
He is hugely popular with the party grass-roots but has few pals among Tory MPs – many of whom dislike his bumbling style and prefer Mrs May’s quieter, more reserved tone.
A statement said: “Andrew Feldman always said that he would serve alongside the Prime Minister for as long as he was needed”.
Rochford and Southend East MP James Duddridge, who also serves under Mr Cameron as a Foreign Officer minister, backed Leave but called on the prime minister to stay on before the announcement.
“Today on behalf of the 27 (European) leaders, I can say that we are determined to keep our unity as the 27.
They want certainty, and I think we should be able to do this more quickly”, he said.
But his decision to attempt to solve party infighting and see off the threat of the United Kingdom Independence Party by offering a referendum on membership of the European Union if he won the general election has proved fatal to his reign.
It seems unlikely that Mr Cameron would have thrust a referendum on the Conservative Party General Election manifesto if he had even an inkling of how the electorate’s voracious mood for change would take hold.
Responding to the letter, John Ashworth, Labour’s shadow minister without portfolio, said: “Whatever happens tonight the British public will want to be assured the Government is focused on jobs, living standards and public services”.
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May 2010: David Cameron fails to win a majority and is forced to agree a deal with the Liberal Democrats to lead Britain’s first coalition government since Second World II.
