The tacky Chicago airport restaurant where David Cameron agreed to EU referendum over a pizza slice
The Prime Minister’s political gamble to give Brits a say on Europe ended his career
Four years ago the Prime Minister feared of Ukip storming ahead in the polls and his party splitting over Europe so called a meeting with his then Foreign Secretary William Hague and chief of staff Ed Llewellyn at Chicago O’Hare airport.
The trio were on their way home from a NATO conference in May 2012 when they discussed plans for the 2015 general election – and how to secure an overall Conservative majority.
They were spotted by travellers who were surprised to see Cameron and Hague enjoying a slice of pizza together in Terminal Three.
It followed months of talks behind the scenes to offer the British people a referendum before the end of 2017 and that night – after convincing a reluctant Chancellor George Osborne – they shook hands on a deal that would ultimately lead to his political downfall.
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Although the promise of an EU referendum did help secure a Conservative majority, the decision proved to be too much of a political gamble when he failed to convince voters Remain was best for Britain.
The final result saw 17,759,184 Brits vote to leave, while 16,580,508 backed remain.
It forced Cameron yesterday to fall on his sword and resign as Prime Minister —but it was after telling aides: “Why should I do all the hard s**t?”
The teary-eyed PM decided to quit as it became clear Leave had won a stunning Referendum victory.
He chose to end his six-year Premiership rather than spend months working out Britain’s tricky exit from the EU — only to have to hand over to a rival like Boris Johnson.
And he told tearful members of his inner circle: “Why should I do all the hard s**t for someone else, just to hand it over to them on a plate?”
The moving scenes played out as the PM came into the office of his key staff, next door to his No10 study, just before 9am yesterday.
Mr Cameron’s resignation helped steady the nerves of the City. The FTSE and sterling both plunged immediately after the Brexit result, but later rallied to near normal levels.
Prime Minister-in-waiting Boris Johnson yesterday kept tight-lipped over feverish speculation that he will succeed David Cameron.
But there are many in the Tory party who want to try and stop him.
Who will replace David Cameron?
Here are the runners and riders to be our next PM:
Boris Johnson 4/7
His great appeal is his ability to win elections. Against the odds he took City Hall and he gambled his career on leading Britain out of the Brexit door.
As the figurehead of the Vote Leave campaign it follows that has country-wide appeal, with 17.5million voters backing Brexit.
But while immensely popular with the Tory grassroots, Boris is short of a few friends in the parliamentary party and he’ll need them if he is to get through the first round of leadership contest.
But it would be a stretch to imagine a Tory leadership contest without his blonde bonce in the scrum.
George Osborne 16/1
The Chancellor has endured a torrid EU referendum campaign, having to do much of the peddling of Remain’s Project Fear economic doomsday Brexit forecasts.
Before that he also faced a series of embarrassing Commons defeats and earlier this month 65 Tory MPs roundly rejected his proposals for an emergency “Brexit budget” calling it “absurd”.
It is thought he will have to be moved in a Cabinet reshuffle to another post.
Once seen as the natural successor to David Cameron’s throne and the continuity candidate, his odds will have plummeted after Brits voted Brexit.
Theresa May 5/2
The Home Secretary kept her head down during the EU referendum, so much so that she was criticised by some within the party for failing to pull her weight.
Seen by some as the unity candidate, the “Ice Queen” and reluctant Remainer has leapfrogged Osborne as the likely candidate to take on Boris in a leadership race.
Despite being the longest serving Home Secretary in 100 years, her “lack of star quality” could cost her when it comes down to votes from the Tory grassroots.
She recently appointed respected political hack Joey Jones, sparking speculation she is putting together her team in time for a leadership challenge.
Michael Gove 5/1
The other Brexiteer to be in with a shot at the title.
Popular with Tory MPs but disliked by the public, support among the Conservative membership has swelled for the Justice Secretary during the campaign, with 31 per cent backing him for leader.
He has always claimed he is not interested in the leadership but now with his close friend Cameron cleanly dispatched he might reconsider.
Nicky Morgan 33/1
Considered a rank outsider for the top job. The Education Secretary announced her intention to run last year once Mr Cameron stepped down.
Selling herself as “Mrs Normal” she has said she wants to see a “female leader of a main Westminster political party”.
She is not fancied as a favourite at the bookies.
The sun
