A MONUMENTAL night in British political history in which the country voted to leave the EU after nearly half a century has been followed by the announcement by David Cameron that he is resigning as Prime Minister .

In a statement outside Downing Street this morning Mr Cameron said that it was 'not right’ for him to be 'the captain’ that 'steers the country’ in a new direction.

Reacting to the news and the night where 52% of the UK voted to leave the EU and 48% to remain MP for Central Devon and advocate for remain Mel Stride said: 'David Cameron has served our country with distinction and should be proud of his achievements as our Prime Minister.

'I respect the decision of the British people to leave the EU although as I have always argued leaving is going to represent a hugely challenging path. I, and my fellow Conservative MPs, will now elect a new leader in the coming months and we will unite in continuing to deliver on our manifesto and to steer our country through the challenges ahead.’MP for West Devon and Torridge Geoffrey Cox, who supported the Vote Leave campaign, said: 'I would like to thank all those who voted in Torridge and West Devon overwhelmingly for change. The announcement of the decision of the electorate today presents our country with a great opportunity and our government with a great challenge to propose a new and better relationship with the EU and to re-invigorate our democratic institutions. I shall work with my colleagues of all parties to ensure that happens.'We can and must look forward to the future with hope and confidence in fulfilling the wishes of the British people.'MP for South East Cornwall Sheryll Murray, who also supported the Vote Leave campaign, said: 'Firstly I would like to thank the people of Cornwall for taking the brave step to vote to leave the EU. Britain now faces a new relationship with Europe.'This will not happen overnight and will take many lengthy negotiations but I will be in Parliament fighting to ensure that Cornwall and its farmers still get the funding needed. I will also continue to fight to get a better deal for our fisherman as we extract ourselves from the failed CFP.'I was sad to hear of David Cameron’s resignation as Prime Minister and was one of the many MPs who wrote him a letter asking him to stay. He has been an excellent Prime Minister who has done so much to turn our struggling economy around. I would like to thank him for all he has done.'Mr Cameron said in his speech this morning: 'I Iove this country and will do everything I can to serve it,’ but he added ’the will of the British people is an instruction that must be delivered.’

Mr Cameron said he would stay on while a new Tory leader was elected but expected that he would be gone by the time of the Conservative Party Conference in October.

’We must now prepare for a renegotiation with the EU. Above all this will require strong determined and committed leadership.

’I think the country requires fresh leadership to take it in that direction.’

Mr Cameron said he would not invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty that will start the process of Brexit. He will leave that decision to his successor — odds are on former Mayor of London Boris Johnson or the Home Secretary Theresa May or Michael Gove to become Britain’s next Prime Minister. A Tory leadership election is likely to get underway within weeks.

Nationally there was a turnout of 72% in the EU referendum but in West Devon the turnout was higher at 81%. In Torridge the turnout was 78%, in Mid Devon 79% and in Cornwall 77%.

All these areas voted in favour to leave the EU — In West Devon the vote was 53.2% to 46% — 35,613 votes were cast and in the early hours of the morning West Devon Borough Council declared that there were 16,658 votes for remain and 18,937 votes for leave. In Torridge the result was 60.8% to 39.2% in favour of leave, in Mid Devon it was 53.3% to 46.7% and in Cornwall it was 56.5% to 43.5%.

It is believed the outcome is likely to spark a second independence referendum in Scotland that, unlike England and Wales, voted to remain in the EU. 

Markets reacted with alarm to the vote with the pound plunging against the dollar to levels not seen in more than 30 years.

The unofficial result was confirmed just after 4.40am this morning after initial results indicated a surge in support for leaving the EU contrary to predictions made just hours before polls closed.

The result will now trigger a formal process of British withdrawal from the European Union. A planned meeting of European leaders next week in Brussels will now become an emergency Brexit summit. 

Conservative MEP for the South West and Gibraltar Ashley Fox said: ’The British people have spoken. Now we must carry out their wishes.

’I have two priorities over the coming weeks. Along with my Conservative colleagues I will work to bring our party back together after what has been a passionate and at times heated campaign.

"Secondly, whichever side of the debate we were on, we must now reunite and put all our efforts into helping negotiate a smooth departure from the EU that safeguards Britain’s interest and recognises that we remain friends, allies and trading partners with our European neighbours."

But remain campaigner MEP Julie Girling, for the South West and Gibraltar, has spoken of her disappointment over the result of the EU referendum.

’This is a shattering decision for Britain. I am deeply sorry that the people of the UK have chosen this leap in the dark. I believe future generations will question our wisdom.

"The EU has many faults, of course, but I remain convinced that we would be safer, stronger and better off by remaining a member.

"However, the British people have decided otherwise. The Conservative Party, like the whole nation, must put our disagreements behind us and pull together to get the best for Britain.

"As an MEP, I intend to do all I can to make sure we negotiate the best terms possible for our departure and protect our trade, exports and economy "

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