British Prime Minister David Cameron on Wednesday said serving as Prime Minister was his greatest honour.
Mr Cameron made the statement while addressing a crowd outside 10 Downing Street, before heading to Buckingham Palace to tender his resignation to the Queen.
The outgoing Prime Minister urged his successor, Theresa May, to keep Britain close to the European Union, even as she embarks on the monumental task of ending four decades of membership.
Cameron is stepping down after Britons rejected his entreaties and voted to leave the EU in a referendum last month, severely undermining European efforts to forge greater unity and creating economic uncertainty across the 28-nation bloc.
“My advice to my successor, who is a brilliant negotiator, is that we should try to be as close to the European Union as we can be for the benefits of trade, cooperation and of security,” he told parliament in his last appearance before resigning.
“The Channel will not get any wider once we leave the European Union, and that is the relationship we should seek.
Cameron said the government was working hard to ensure that an estimated 3 million EU citizens can stay in Britain, but this would depend on reciprocal rights for Britons in Europe.
He took the opportunity to trumpet his government’s achievements in generating one of the fastest growth rates among western economies, chopping the budget deficit, creating 2.5 million jobs and legalizing gay marriage.
Greatest Honour
Mr Cameron said being prime minister had been “the greatest honour” of his life as he prepared to formally resign.
Flanked by his wife and children in Downing Street, the PM said the UK was “much stronger” than when he took over.
He is now going to Buckingham Palace to tender his resignation to the Queen, who will then formally appoint Theresa May as his replacement.
