In Wake of Brexit, David Cameron Resigns as Prime Minster

After a hard fought campaign, the United Kingdom has voted 52 to percent to 48 percent leave the European Union. Prime Minster David Cameron, who campaign for the UK the remain in the EU, has announced his resignation saying that the country will need new leadership as it negotiates it’s withdrawal from the EU. Cameron says he will continue to serve as prime minister until the Conservative Party selects a replacement this October.

“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 have taken lightly, but I do believe it is in the national interest to have a period of stability and then the new leadership required.”

Cameron has led the nation for the six years and has several achievements to be proud of such as the legalization of gay marriage and a revived economy in the wake of the 2008 collapse, but it’s possible that those successes will be overshadowed by the victory of the Brexit movement. More so than even the withdrawal from the EU, Cameron faces the unenviable possibility of being known as the prime minister who broke apart the UK. In the wake of the Brexit vote, Nicola Sturgeon, First Minster of Scotland, has said that a second referendum for Scottish Independence is on the table.  “I think an independence referendum is now highly likely but I also think it is important that we take time to consider all steps and have the discussions, not least to assess the response of the European Union to the vote that Scotland expressed yesterday.” In addition to Scotland, there is also talk of Northern Ireland holding a vote for independence.

Ultimately, only time will tell what becomes of the post-Brexit UK, but we’ll keep you updated as the story develops.

Featured image via Wikimedia