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BREAKING: David Cameron has no regrets over Brexit as vote delay plunges UK into crisis

The former Prime Minister, who was responsible for holding the EU vote on June 23, 2016, was unrepen..

The former Prime Minister, who was responsible for holding the EU vote on June 23, 2016, was unrepentant about the decision despite the turmoil engulfing Britain.

Remain-supporter Cameron initially resisted calls from Tory party grandees for a vote on the EU question, but changed his mind ahead of the 2015 general election.

In his manifesto, he promised to renegotiate Britain's relationship with Europe ahead of a public vote to decide whether the UK should stay in or leave the EU.

Unable to convince his party or the country of the merits of remaining, Cameron resigned as PM after Britains historic vote to leave the EU.

Asked whether he regretted the decision to call the vote by a reporter tonight, Cameron refused to accept it was a mistake.

david cameron

UNREPENTANT: Cameron insisted calling the EU referendum was not a mistake (Pic: SKY NEWS)

david cameron brexit

NO REGRETS: David Cameron was unrepentant when asked about his decision to hold the vote (Pic: SKY NEWS)

He said: “Of course I don't regret calling a referendum. I made a promise ahead of the election to hold a referendum. And I called the referendum.

“Obviously Im very concerned about what has happened today. But I do support the Prime Minister in her efforts to have a close partnership with the European Union.

“Thats the right thing to do and she has my support.”

Cameron was grilled by reporters after his successor, Theresa May, delayed a “meaningful vote” on the final Brexit deal in the House of Commons.

Delivering Brexit has proved to be an improbable task for Mrs May, whose compromise deal with the EU is unpopular with MPs from across the House, many Tories included.

Camerons deal, which promised “special status” for Britain, ultimately caused his demise as PM and Mrs May is on the brink of following suit.

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david cameron

HISTORIC: Cameron calling the EU referendum in February 2016 (Pic: GETTY)

In the face of fierce opposition to her Brexit deal, the Prime Minister called off the “meaningful vote”to avoid what would have been an embarrassing defeat in parliament.

She told MPs her deal would have been “rejected by a significant margin” and therefore decided to defer the vote to a later date yet to be determined.

The PM said she would attempt to seek concessions from Brussels to “reassure” MPs Britain would not be tied to the EU “indefinitely” under the Irish backstop arrangement.

She conceded there was still “widespread and deep concern” over the backstop, which prevents a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

theresa may

DEFIANT: Mrs May said she believes her deal is right for the UK (Pic: GETTY)

“Of course I don't regret calling a referendum”

David Cameron

But despite calls for her to “govern or quit” by Tory MPs, Mrs May insisted her deal was “the right one” for Britain in that it respected the result of the 2016 referendum.

While buying her time to secure concessions from the EU, the PM still faces the ominous task of passing her deal through parliament, in whatever form it takes.

Stressing her “duty to honour” the 2016 EU referendum, she asked MPs: “Does this House want to deliver Brexit?”

The shock announcement comes just hours after Downing Street said the “meaningful vote” would go ahead while Brexit secretary Stephen Barclay said it was "100% happening on Tuesday" on the Andrew Marr Show.

david cameron

MANIFESTO PLEDGE: Cameron offered to hold a referendum ahead of the 2015 general election (Pic: GETTY)

In response, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the delay shows the government is “in disarray” over Brexit and urged Mrs May to “stand aside” for his party to take over.

"The prime minister is trying to buy herself one last chance to save this deal,” she told MPs.

“If she doesn't take on board the fundamental changes required, then she must make way for those who can."

EU officials and leaders have been united in their refusal to allow Mrs May to alter the withdrawal agreement she hammered out.

European Council President Donald Tusk said Brexit would be discussed at the council meeting on Thursday, including how to help the British government ratify the exit process.

But he stressed that the withdrawal agreement was not up for renegotiation.

"I have decided to call EUCO on Brexit (Art. 50) on Thursday," Tusk said on Twitter.

"We will not renegotiate the deal, including the backstop, but we are ready to discuss how to facilitate UK ratification. As time is running out, we will also discuss our preparedness for a no-deal scenario."

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