London: The man who led the Leave campaign to a convincing win, and who may be the prime minister that takes the UK through Europe's exit door, has called for calm.
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"There is now no need for haste," said Conservative MP Boris Johnson. "Nothing will change over the short term except that work will have to begin on how to give effect to the will of the people."
He directly addressed those in the UK and overseas "anxious" about the consequences.
"This doesn't mean the UK will be in any way less united nor any less European," he said, denying the result was an isolationist "pulling up a drawbridge".
"We are part of Europe," he said. "Our children and grandchildren will continue to have wonderful future as Europeans.
"Britain will continue to be a great European power. We can find our voice in the world again."
And he promised a more prosperous future for the UK by taking back control of laws and policies, saying Britain would continue to be a "powerful, liberal, humane and extraordinary force for good in the world."
All politicians should thank the British people, he said.
"This year we gave them one of the biggest and toughest questions of all.
Some people are now saying that was wrong and the people should never have been asked. I disagree … there is no way of dealing with a decision on this scale except by putting it to the people.
"The electorates have searched in their hearts and answered as honestly as they can."
The former London mayor left his home in north London on Friday morning amid police escort and the boos of protestors, suggesting he would face an uphill battle presenting himself as a PM candidate who could reunify a divided nation.
Mr Johnson said he was sad that Mr Cameron had decided to step down.
"He has been one of the most extraordinary politicians of our age, a brave and principled man who has given superb leadership of his party and his country for many years.
"It was his bravery that gvave this country the first referendum on the European Union for 43 years."
Conservative MP Michael Gove promised a calm and consensual approach to implementing the Brexit process.
The mission was to "secure the best possible terms for Britain" in the upcoming negotiations with Europe, predicting a "gradual divergence" from the EU.
"We can now calmly and united take our country forward," he said.
