David Cameron led a charmed political life but with Brexit gamble his luck ran out
Referendum was a rare but fateful miscalculation for a politician who has a reputation for astutely judging political risks.
It’s often said that David Cameron is a lucky politician who has seemed to coast through politics on instinct and charm during a career that has culminated in six years as British prime minister. On Thursday, his luck ran out.
In calling a referendum on Britain’s membership in the European Union, Cameron made a gamble that sank his career – and set his country on a course to leave an international alliance it joined more than 40 years ago. Speaking to assembled reporters outside his Downing Street office on Friday, he said he would stay on for as long as was necessary for stability’s sake, but that he could not be the one to lead Britain out of Europe.
“I will do everything I can as prime minister to steady the ship over the coming weeks and months,” he said. “But I do not think it would be right for me to try to be the captain that steers the country to its next destination.”
Brexit was a rare but fateful miscalculation for a politician who has a reputation for thriving under pressure and astutely judging political risks.
“I think he’s actually been pretty stunned by the strength of the Leave cause,” Cameron biographer James Hanning said several days ahead of the referendum. “The golden rule is, never hold a referendum unless you’re confident of winning it, and I think he thought that the moderate voices would prevail by some distance.”