LONDON: Former British Prime Minister David Cameron , who quit after losing June 23 Brexit vote, resigned today as an MP with immediate effect, saying it was "very difficult" to continue on the backbenches and he wanted to avoid becoming a "diversion" for his successor Theresa May He will step down as MP for Witney in Oxfordshire, triggering a by-election in his constituency. He has represented Witney since 2001, becoming Conservative leader in 2005 and serving as prime minister for six years from 2010.The 49-year-old Conservative party MP had stepped down as Prime Minister on June 24, a day after the UK voted to leave the European Union (EU).He had initially indicated that he would continue as a back-bench Tory MP under the leadership of May but today he announced his decision to step down from that role as well to avoid becoming a "diversion". "Having fully considered my position over the summer, I have decided that I am going to stand down as the Member of Parliament for Witney. There will now be a by-election and I will do everything that I can to help the Conservative candidate win that election," Cameron said in a statement.He said: "In my view, the circumstances of my resignation as Prime Minister and the realities of modern politics make it very difficult to continue on the backbenches without the risk of becoming a diversion to the important decisions that lie ahead for my successor in Downing Street and the government. "I fully support Theresa May and have every confidence that Britain will thrive under her strong leadership.

Source: Economic Times September 12, 2016 15:11 UTC