David Cameron to quit as Conservative MP for Witney

Former UK Prime Minister David Cameron is to stand down as an MP, triggering a by-election in his Oxfordshire seat of Witney.

Mr Cameron, who resigned as prime minister after June's EU referendum, said he did not want to be a "distraction" for new PM Theresa May.

The 49-year-old said his replacement had "got off to a cracking start".

Mr Cameron, who has represented Witney since 2001, became Conservative leader in 2005 and PM in 2010.

Speaking in his constituency, he said it had been a "great honour" to be an MP for the area, but said it would be difficult for him to remain on the backbenches without becoming "a big distraction and a big diversion" from the work of the new government.

Culled from the BBC News. Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-37342152