David Cameron has announced he will leave his role as prime minister in the wake of the UK’s decision to leave the European Union.
Cameron, who had championed the Remain campaign, made the announcement outside 10 Downing Street Friday as the pound fell to its lowest level against the dollar since 1985 following the result.
He promised to try to “steady the ship” over the coming months but said a new leader should be installed by early October.
“The country requires fresh leadership to take it in this direction,” Cameron said. “I will do everything I can as prime minister to steady the ship over the coming weeks and months, but I don’t think it would be right for me to try to be the captain that steers our country to its next destination.
“A negotiation with the European Union will need to begin under a new prime minister and I think it’s right that this new prime minister takes the decision about when to trigger Article 50 and start the formal and legal process of leaving the EU.”
The Leave campaign won 52% of the vote to win by 1,269.501 votes with turnout at 72%.
More to follow…