{Politics} Former UK PM, David Cameron, quits parliament
DAVID-CAMERON |
From world leader to the wilderness in just under three months.
David Cameron, the former British Prime Minister has announced he
will stand down as a member of parliament for his constituency of Witney
immediately, triggering a by-election.
Cameron, who has worked in Parliament since 2001, stepped down as
Prime minister in the aftermath of the Brexit vote in which the UK
decided to leave the European Union.
CNN reported that he had previously said that he was “keen to
continue” in his role as a backbench MP after stepping away from Downing
Street but has since decided such a role is untenable.
“In my view, the circumstances of my resignation as Prime Minister
and the realities of modern politics make it very difficult to continue
on the backbenches without the risk of becoming a diversion to the
important decisions that lie ahead for my successor in Downing Street
and the Government,” he said in a statement Monday.
“I fully support Theresa May and have every confidence that Britain will thrive under her strong leadership.
“I now look forward to a life outside of Westminster, but hope to
continue to play a part in public service and to make a real and useful
contribution to the country I love.”
Cameron, 49, became Conservative leader in 2005 and Prime minister in 2010.
He revealed that he spoke with his successor before making the decision public.
“I spoke to Theresa May and she was very understanding about this decision,” Cameron told ITV.
“I support her. I support what she’s doing. She’s got off to a
cracking start. Obviously I’m going to have my own views about different
issues; people would know that. And that’s really the point.
“As a former prime minister it is very difficult, I think, to sit as a
back bencher and not be an enormous diversion and distraction from what
the government is doing.
“I don’t want to be that distraction. I want Witney to have an MP
that can play a full role in parliamentary and political life in a way
that I think I would find very difficult, if not impossible.”
Photo Credit: Tribuneonline
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