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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| David Cameron resigns as MP for Witney with immediate effect | David Cameron resigns as MP for Witney with immediate effect |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| David Cameron is to stand down as MP with immediate effect, he has announced. | David Cameron is to stand down as MP with immediate effect, he has announced. |
| Mr Cameron, who has represented Witney in Oxfordshire since 2001, will trigger a by-election to find a successor for the area in Parliament. | Mr Cameron, who has represented Witney in Oxfordshire since 2001, will trigger a by-election to find a successor for the area in Parliament. |
| He had stepped down as Prime Minister the morning of the 24 June European Union referendum result after it became clear he had accidentally taken Britain out of the bloc. | He had stepped down as Prime Minister the morning of the 24 June European Union referendum result after it became clear he had accidentally taken Britain out of the bloc. |
| Mr Cameron told broadcasters he would not be able to properly represent his area given the circumstances of his departure as Prime Minister. | |
| Backing Theresa May's premiership, he said also said he did not want to be a "distraction" for the Government. | Backing Theresa May's premiership, he said also said he did not want to be a "distraction" for the Government. |
| "With modern politics, with the circumstances of my resignation, it isn’t really possible to be a proper backbench MP as a former prime minister," he said. | "With modern politics, with the circumstances of my resignation, it isn’t really possible to be a proper backbench MP as a former prime minister," he said. |
| "I think everything you do would become a big distraction and a big diversion for what the government needs to do for our country. I support Theresa May, I think she’s got off to a great start, I think she can be a strong Prime Minister for our country. | "I think everything you do would become a big distraction and a big diversion for what the government needs to do for our country. I support Theresa May, I think she’s got off to a great start, I think she can be a strong Prime Minister for our country. |
| "I don’t want to be that distraction. I want Witney to have a new MP who can play a full part in parliamentary and political life without being a distraction." | "I don’t want to be that distraction. I want Witney to have a new MP who can play a full part in parliamentary and political life without being a distraction." |
| However, when quizzed about his support for grammar schools, Mr Cameron was less than effusive for his successor's agenda of sweeping reform – though he denied they were related to his decision to stand down. | However, when quizzed about his support for grammar schools, Mr Cameron was less than effusive for his successor's agenda of sweeping reform – though he denied they were related to his decision to stand down. |
| "There’s very many good things in the policy... But frankly I don’t want to get into the whys and wherefores of this individual policy. | "There’s very many good things in the policy... But frankly I don’t want to get into the whys and wherefores of this individual policy. |
| "My announcement today is not about grammar schools. There’s no connection with grammar schools, it’s purely one of timing. | "My announcement today is not about grammar schools. There’s no connection with grammar schools, it’s purely one of timing. |
| "My view is, as I’ve said, I don’t want to be the distraction and diversion that the former prime minister inevitably is on the backbenches." | "My view is, as I’ve said, I don’t want to be the distraction and diversion that the former prime minister inevitably is on the backbenches." |
| Mr Cameron added that he would continue to live locally and support local causes and charities – but that he would "obviously" have to "build a life outside of Westminster". | Mr Cameron added that he would continue to live locally and support local causes and charities – but that he would "obviously" have to "build a life outside of Westminster". |
| "I want to thank everybody here in West Oxfordshire who have been so supportive," he added. | "I want to thank everybody here in West Oxfordshire who have been so supportive," he added. |
| The former PM said he had met with his consituency party chairman earlier this morning, as well as his staff in Witney and London, before making his public resignation statement. | The former PM said he had met with his consituency party chairman earlier this morning, as well as his staff in Witney and London, before making his public resignation statement. |
| Prime Minister Theresa May said: “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. | Prime Minister Theresa May said: “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. I thank him for everything he has done for the Conservative Party and the country and I wish him and his family well for the future.” | “His commitment to lead a one nation Government is one that I will continue. I thank him for everything he has done for the Conservative Party and the country and I wish him and his family well for the future.” |
| The announcement, made in an interview, is a reversal of previous statements by the former prime minister – who had said he wanted to stay on. | The announcement, made in an interview, is a reversal of previous statements by the former prime minister – who had said he wanted to stay on. |
| In May this year he told BBC Radio Oxford that he was "very keen to continue" as an MP after the scheduled 2020 general election. | In May this year he told BBC Radio Oxford that he was "very keen to continue" as an MP after the scheduled 2020 general election. |
| Asked whether he would stand at the time he replied: “That is very much my intention.” | Asked whether he would stand at the time he replied: “That is very much my intention.” |
| The former prime minister's retreat from elected office comes after controversy over his resignation honours list. He was accused of awarding his 'cronies' with honours; a Whitehall investigation has been launched. | The former prime minister's retreat from elected office comes after controversy over his resignation honours list. He was accused of awarding his 'cronies' with honours; a Whitehall investigation has been launched. |