Former UK PM David Cameron resigns as MP

Cameron was prime minister when Britain decided to lift its “boycott” of Narendra Modi’s government in Gujarat, imposed after the 2002 riots. He pushed for a “special relationship” with India.

Former British prime minister David Cameron, who resigned in the wake of the June 23 “Brexit” vote and played a crucial role in enlisting new support from Britain’s Indian community for the Conservative Party, announced his decision to step down as a member of parliament on Monday.

Former British Prime Minister David Cameron with wife Samantha on his way to tender his resignation. Cameron played a crucial role in enlisting new support from Britain’s Indian community for the Conservative party. (AFP)

Cameron was the prime minister when Britain decided to lift its “boycott” of Narendra Modi’s government in Gujarat, imposed after the 2002 riots. He pushed for a “special relationship” with India and established a rapport with Modi during his visit to London in November 2015.

The MP from Whitney, Oxfordshire said he did not want to remain in the House of Commons and be a distraction to Prime Minister Theresa May’s government, whose views on key issues may be different from those of Cameron.

“Obviously I’m going to have my own views about different issues. People would know that and that’s really the point. As a former prime minister it is very difficult, I think, to sit as a backbencher and not be an enormous diversion and distraction from what the government is doing,” he said.