Standing ovation for Cameron in final appearance as PM
Print Edition
DAVID Cameron’s last appearance in parliament as British prime minister ended in a standing ovation after a bravura 36-minute performance that taunted his rivals, reflected on his legacy and confessed his love for the office cat.
After six years as leader, Cameron formally handed his resignation to Queen Elizabeth yesterday afternoon, passing control of the country to fellow Conservative Theresa May, who will be in charge of negotiating Britain’s exit from the European Union.
Speaking in a packed parliament, with lawmakers, media, aides and spectators jammed into every corner of the ornate debating chamber, Cameron answered questions with the air of a man looking forward to an afternoon off.
“This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others,” he said. “Other than one meeting this afternoon with her majesty the Queen, the diary for the rest of my day is remarkably light,” he said to laughter.
Cameron, often praised for his statesman-like demeanor, cut a more relaxed figure as he laid into his political rival Jeremy Corbyn, whose own future is subject to a protracted battle within the Labour Party.
“We’ve both been having these leadership elections. We got on with it. We’ve had resignation, nomination, competition and coronation. They haven’t even decided what the rules are yet,” he said.
Cameron likened Corbyn to the hapless Black Knight comedy figure in “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” who was unable to see when he was beaten.
“I’m beginning to admire his tenacity,” Cameron said.
“He is reminding me of the black knight in Monty Python’s Holy Grail. He’s been kicked so many times but he says ‘keep going it’s only a flesh wound.’ I admire that.”
Cameron will be leaving behind one key ally: Larry the cat.
“Sadly I can’t take Larry with me, he belongs to the house and the staff love him very much, as do I,” he said.
Cameron highlighted his government’s efforts to stabilize the post-financial crisis economy and the passing of gay marriage laws.
“I’ll never forget the day actually at Number 10 when one of the people who works very close to the front door said to me ‘I’m not that interested in politics Mr Cameron, but because of something your lot have done I’m able to marry the person I’ve loved all my life this weekend,’” he said. “There are many amazing moments in this job but that was one of my favorites.”
Cameron’s final words, greeted by a standing ovation from his party and many rival lawmakers, recalled a 2005 taunt when he mocked then-Prime Minister Tony Blair by saying: “He was the future once.”
Bowing out yesterday, Cameron said: “Nothing is really impossible if you put your mind to it. After all, as I once said: ‘I was the future once.’”
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
