Former British PM Cameron resigns from Parliament
Ex-premier says as former leader, everything he does in House of Commons is a 'big distraction and a big diversion'
Britain’s former prime minister David Cameron has resigned his seat in the House of Commons, he told broadcaster ITV in an interview Monday.
Cameron stepped down as prime minister in June, hours after Britain voted to leave the European Union in a referendum in which he had campaigned to stay in the bloc.
“In my view, 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,” Cameron told the broadcaster.
“I think everything you do will become a big distraction and a big diversion from what the government needs to do for our country.”
Cameron said that Prime Minister Theresa May is off to “a great start” and is well positioned to lead Britain. He also promised to support the Conservative Party candidate chosen to replace him in the by-election that will be held in order to fill the vacancy.
Cameron’s resignation from Parliament is unusually quick — former prime ministers have typically retained their seats for a number of years after leaving the official Downing Street residence.
Cameron had won re-election in 2015, but his position became untenable after losing the EU vote on June 23.
He did not announce his future plans.