He loved Larry the Downing Street cat, he said. And that, in the end – the public service, the national interest – that’s what it’s all about.
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The session finished with party grandee Ken Clarke urging Mr Cameron to stay on in Parliament as the United Kingdom goes through a tumultuous period following the vote to leave the European Union last month.
He said: “You ask about the record of this Government when it comes to Scotland, well I’ll tell him what it is: 143,000 more people in work in Scotland, massive investment in the renewable industries in Scotland, the two biggest warships ever built in our history built in Scotland, a powerhouse parliament, a referendum that was legal, decisive and fair, and I might add a Scotsman winning Wimbledon twice while I was prime minister”.
I often think that being prime minister must be the worst job in the country. Because people come here with huge passions for the issues they care about.
Mr Cameron said the Labour leader reminded him of the Black Knight from Monty Python’s Holy Grail saying: “Keep going it’s only a flesh wound”.
He also paid tribute to Mr Cameron’s wife Samantha and his family, who watched the proceedings from the public gallery. Mr Cameron’s daughters Nancy and Florence were seen to give their father a wave and to cheer him on during the session.
“They haven’t even decided what the rules are yet”.
Mr Cameron later congratulated Mrs May on becoming the next prime minister, before concluding with closing remarks.
But Mr Corbyn had as special message for Mr Cameron’s mum, Mary.
Other highlights from PMQs today include David Cameron referencing Monty Python.
He said: “I do (love Larry) and I have photographic evidence to prove it”.
And he addressed the rumour that he wasn’t taking Larry the No 10 cat with him because he didn’t love him.
Mr Cameron told MPs he had clocked up 5,500 questions during his six years as prime minister, joking that he would leave it to others to decide how many he has answered.
“I’m told that there are lots of leadership roles out there at the moment”.
One MP jovially suggested that the outgoing Prime Minister could fill the role of presenter of Top Gear, manager of England football or even put his name forward to take over from President Obama.
Mr Cameron then said that PMQs “for all its theatrics does have a purpose” in that it is a time when the PM must know “absolutely everything” that is going on in Whitehall.
He then prompted laughter across the House as he adopted an American accent to recount the time he was greeted by a member of the public in NY when he was Leader of the Opposition.
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“I remember when I did his (Mr Corbyn’s) job and I met Mayor Bloomberg in NY and we walked down the street and everyone knew Mike Bloomberg and everyone came up and said “Mayor, you’re doing a great job”. We should show respect for opponents”.
