After receiving a standing ovation in his final Prime Ministers Questions session, David Cameron is set to hand over the U.K. premier role to Theresa May later on Wednesday.
Hosting his final PMQ in the House of Commons, Cameron said in a light-hearted speech, "I will miss the roar of the crowd, I will miss the barbs of the opposition, but I will be willing you on."
"I was the future once," he said, concluding his speech.
Cameron announced his resignation on June 24 after 52 percent of Britons voted to leave the U.K. in the referendum held a day earlier. He had campaigned for the U.K. to remain in the union.
The Conservative Party had launched a nine-week election to find a leader and replacement for Cameron, which was cut short on Monday as one of the two lead contenders, Andrea Leadsom, unexpectedly chose to quit the race. That left just Home Secretary Theresa May in the fray.
He urged the new PM Theresa May to keep the U.K. "as close to the European Union as possible".
Despite how divisive British politics had become in the run up to the June 23 referendum and afterwards, good humor was noticeable in Cameron's final session.
While the Tories and some Liberal Democrats went with the standing ovation, Labour MPs joined in with clapping.
Following the "Brexit" vote, Cameron had said the formal exit negotiations under Article 50 of the EU Treaty should take place under the new PM.
Regarding the sensitive topic of EU nationals living in the U.K., Cameron said the government was working hard to guarantee their rights in the country. "Its important to have reciprocity," he said.
During her campaign, May have refused to give a guarantee on the matter, only saying that the EU nationals' status will be part of the negotiations.
On his future in politics, Cameron said, "I will watch these exchanges from the back benches...and will be willing you on".
"You can achieve a lot of things in politics....Nothing is really impossible if you put your mind to it," he added.
Labour Party Chief Jeremy Corbyn, who is facing a revolt against his leadership, thanked the outgoing PM for legalizing gay marriage and for securing the release of British resident Shaker Aamer from Guantanamo Bay.
Taking a pot-shot at the Labour party, Cameron said, "When it came to female prime ministers, I am pleased to say pretty soon it is going to be two-nil".
Cameron also said that he was beginning to like the tenacity of Corbyn in holding on to the Labour leader role, despite opposition from within the party.
On a candid note, Cameron declared his love for the famous Larry, the cat who resides at the 10 Downing Street and is set to remain there.
The Cameron family including wife Samantha and his children watched the session from the public gallery.
Cameron will make a statement at Downing Street later on Wednesday and then proceed to meet the Queen at the Buckingham Palace later today to tender his resignation.
May will follow Cameron to the Palace afterwards to accept the Queen's offer to form the government.
She will be Britain's second female PM after Margaret Thatcher. At 59, she will also be the country's oldest incoming PM.
A known face in the EU, May has said that the Article 50 will not be triggered this year. She has also ruled out a general election before 2020 and abandoned the target of achieving a budget surplus by that year.
The home secretary, a 'remain' campaigner like Cameron, had positioned herself as a "unity" candidate in the Tory leadership election.
May has held the post of the home secretary since 2010, the second longest term.
For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
Business News
May 22, 2026 14:46 ET Minutes of the latest Fed policy session was the highlight of the week along with survey data on the U.S. housing market. In Europe, survey data signaled the trends in the euro area private sector. Further, consumer price inflation data from the U.K. was in focus. In Asia, various economic indicators from China drew attention to the health of the economy.