SOUTH Essex MPs paid tribute to David Cameron after he announced his resignation - though most stopped short of backing a successor.

Having campaigned for a Remain vote in the referendum, the prime minister said in a press conference outside Downing Street on Friday he felt he must resign ahead of a successor being chosen before Conservative Party Conference in October.

Rochford and Southend East MP James Duddridge, who also serves under Mr Cameron as a Foreign Officer minister, backed Leave but called on the prime minister to stay on before the announcement.

He said: “David Cameron has made a huge difference as prime minister. I was one of the 83 MPs who wrote asking him to stay on, but in retrospect this would have been difficult.

“David Cameron pulled together a coalition government, reduced the deficit, fought for helping global poverty and gave us equal marriage. He also, through the Conservative government, gave us the referendum. These are his legacies.”

His Castle Point colleague Rebecca Harris, who also backed Leave, said she also felt Mr Cameron should have stayed on longer.

She said: “I am disappointed that David Cameron will be resigning so quickly, we knew he had to pass over but I didn’t think it would be so quickly. I admire him and think he has done such a lot of good work for this country since he was elected.”

South Basildon and East Thurrock MP Stephen Metcalfe added: “I am disappointed by the Prime Minister’s decision to resign, but obviously respect both him and his decision.”

“Personally I believe he could have led the negotiations around our exit, but it is clear he did not believe that himself.”

“I would like to place on record my support for the prime minster and to thank him for not only trusting the British people with this momentous decision, but for all his work over the last six years as prime minister in leading the UK’s recovery.”

Arch-eurosceptic and Basildon and Billericay MP John Baron went as far to say Mr Cameron’s successor should be a pro-Brexit MP, however.

He said: “The prime minister was right to announce his resignation and plans for an orderly handover. I hope a colleague who supported Brexit will now become prime minister. A constructive negotiation should ensure we respect the wishes of the electorate, and both exit the EU whilst remaining on good terms with Europe.”

Only one suggestion as successor came from former Rochford and Southend East MP Sir Teddy Taylor - Iain Duncan Smith. However, as he has led the party before, this is unlikely.