David Cameron to resign as Prime Minister in October after Brexit vote

Speaking outside 10 Downing Street after the UK voted to leave the European Union, Mr Cameron said: "I was absolutely clear about my belief that Britain is stronger, better off and safer inside the European Union.

"The British people have made a very clear decision to take a different path... so I think the country requires fresh leadership.

"I will do everything I can as Prime Minister to steady the ship over the coming weeks and months, but I do not think it would be right for me to be the captain that steers the country to its next destination.

"In my view, we should aim to have a new Prime Minister in place by the start of the Conservative Party conference in October."

His voice breaking, the Witney MP added: "I love this country and I feel honoured to have served it and I will do everything I can in future to help this great country succeed."

Mr Cameron also gave assurances to markets and said no immediate changes would take place as a result of the referendum.

And he said his successor should choose when to trigger Article 50 of the European Treaty - the formal process to begin Britain's withdrawal from the EU which begins a two-year negotiation.

Reacting to the news, Wantage MP Ed Vaizey wrote on Twitter: "So sad to see PM going.

"Utterly decent to the end. Loves his country and will continue to work for our future."

Speaking to the BBC, Mr Vaizey added: “I am very sad, obviously, he is one of our own MPs.

“He is highly respected in his constituency and in Oxfordshire.

“He has been an excellent Prime Minister. I wanted him to stay but of course he has reflected on what he said and then came to his decision. I do not think he is walking away, I think he is taking a measured view.

“I think Boris has got to be a very strong candidate but I am sure there will be other people, particularly some of the women in the party who would like to put themselves forward.

“I do not think Michael Gove will stand, I think he will play a significant role in our future negotiations with Europe.”

John Cotton, leader of the SODC and backer of Brexit, also told the BBC: “I have gone from elation to despair in the space of an hour.

“It is very honourable to do but from the country’s point of view we needed him at the healm.

“He has been an incredible Prime Minister. He picked up the raggaged of 12 years of labour and with his team he has turned the country areound and made it the job capital of Europe.

“I think it is a real shame, my heart sank, I knew that is what he was going to say.

“It is hurting him, he feels he had lost. I do not completely agree with him on that. It was only 52 per cent, millions of people agreed with him.

“There is an awful lot of talent.

“Boris will be at the top no doubt. He was our MP for a number of years and I think people who say he is calculated and made these decisions for his career are wrong.

“I do not feel responsible , I think the bigger picture is important. The choice to leave is the right choice. I just think it is unfortunate the Prime Minister feels he needs to leave.”

FULL STATEMENT FROM DAVID CAMERON:

"Good morning everyone, the country has just taken part in a giant democratic exercise, perhaps the biggest in our history.

“Over 33 million people from England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Gibraltar have all had their say.

“We should be proud of the fact that in these islands we trust the people for these big decisions.

“We not only have a parliamentary democracy, but on questions about the arrangements for how we've governed there are times when it is right to ask the people themselves and that is what we have done.

“The British people have voted to leave the European Union and their will must be respected.

“I want to thank everyone who took part in the campaign on my side of the argument, including all those who put aside party differences to speak in what they believe was the national interest and let me congratulate all those who took part in the Leave campaign for the spirited and passionate case that they made.

“The will of the British people is an instruction that must be delivered.

“It was not a decision that was taken lightly, not least because so many things were said by so many different organisations about the significance of this decision.

“So there can be no doubt about the result.

“Across the world people have been watching the choice that Britain has made.

“I would reassure those markets and investors that Britain's economy is fundamentally strong and I would also reassure Britons living in European countries and European citizens living here there will be no immediate changes in your circumstances.

“There will be no initial change in the way our people can travel, in the way our goods can move or the way our services can be sold.

“We must now prepare for a negotiation with the European Union.

“This will need to involve the full engagement of the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland governments to ensure that the interests of all parts of our United Kingdom are protected and advanced.

“But above all this will require strong, determined and committed leadership.

“I'm very proud and very honoured to have been Prime Minister of this country for six years.

“I believe we've made great steps, with more people in work than ever before in our history, with reforms to welfare and education, increasing people's life chances, building a bigger and stronger society, keeping our promises to the poorest people in the world and enabling those who love each other to get married whatever their sexuality, but above all restoring Britain's economic strength.

“And I'm grateful to everyone who's helped to make that happen.

“I have also always believed that we have to confront big decisions, not duck them.

“That is why we delivered the first coalition government in 70 years, to bring our economy back from the brink.

“It's why we delivered a fair, legal and decisive referendum in Scotland.

“And it's why I made the pledge to renegotiate Britain's position in the European Union and to hold the referendum on our membership and have carried those things out.

“I fought this campaign in the only way I know how, which is to say directly and passionately what I think and feel - head, heart and soul.

“I held nothing back, I was absolutely clear about my belief that Britain is stronger, safer and better off inside the European Union and I made clear the referendum was about this and this alone - not the future of any single politician including myself.

“But the British people have made a very clear decision to take a different path and as such I think the country requires fresh leadership to take it in this direction.

“I will do everything I can as Prime Minister to steady the ship over the coming weeks and months but I do not think it would be right for me to try to be the captain that steers our country to its next destination.

“This is not a decision I've taken lightly but I do believe it's in the national interest to have a period of stability and then the new leadership required.

“There is no need for a precise timetable today but in my view we should aim to have a new prime minister in place by the start of the Conservative Party conference in October.

“Delivering stability will be important and I will continue in post as Prime Minister with my Cabinet for the next three months.

“The Cabinet will meet on Monday, the Governor of the Bank of England is making a statement about the steps that the Bank and the Treasury are taking to reassure financial markets.

“We will also continue taking forward the important legislation that we set before Parliament in the Queen's Speech.

“And I have spoken to Her Majesty the Queen this morning to advise her of the steps that I am taking.

“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.

“I will attend the European Council next week to explain the decision the British people have taken and my own decision.

“The British people have made a choice, that not only needs to be respected but those on the losing side of the argument - myself included - should help to make it work.

“Britain is a special country - we have so many great advantages - a parliamentary democracy where we resolve great issues about our future through peaceful debate, a great trading nation with our science and arts, our engineering and our creativity, respected the world over.

“And while we are not perfect I do believe we can be a model for the multi-racial, multi-faith democracy, that people can come and make a contribution and rise to the very highest that their talent allows.

“Although leaving Europe was not the path I recommended, I am the first to praise our incredible strengths.

“I said before that Britain can survive outside the European Union and indeed that we could find a way.

“Now the decision has been made to leave, we need to find the best way and I will do everything I can to help.

“I love this country and I feel honoured to have served it and I will do everything I can in future to help this great country succeed.

“Thank you very much."