David Cameron to resign as an MP with immediate effect

David Cameron- PA

David Cameron has announced he is resigning as an MP with immediate effect.

The former Prime Minister told ITV News he did not have any immediate plans for the future but that as a former prime minister he was not best able to serve his constituents in Witney.

It means there will now be a by-election in the safe Tory seat.

RELATED CONTENT

Brexit vote must not cause UK to turn in on itself, says Ruth Davidson

David Cameron named most impressive parliamentarian in poll of MPs

"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. I think everything you do will become a big distraction and a big diversion from what the government needs to do for our country," he said in a statement.

Cameron has represented the Oxfordshire seat since 2001 and became Tory leader in 2005 before taking the reins at 10 Downing St in May 2010.

He called time on six years as Prime Minister the day after the EU referendum, arguing that he was not the right person to be "the captain that steers our country to its next destination".

However, his aides insisted that he had no intention of standing down as an MP as well.

As recently as March, he said he planned to stand for re-election in 2020.

Cameron told his successor Theresa May about his decision this afternoon, according to ITV News’ Chris Ship.