David Cameron resigns: Five things we learnt from his final PMQs

"I was the future once," David Cameron declared as he made his final speech to MPs in the House of Commons as prime minister (13 July). The outgoing premier was met with a standing ovation from Conservative MPs and some on the opposition benches as he left the chamber.

The tribute came after a cheery and joke-filled session, including good-hearted exchanges between Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Cameron. The former Conservative leader is now expected to head to Buckingham Palace to meet the Queen, where he will officially resign and hand over the keys of Number 10 to his successor Theresa May.

But before his exit from the top of British politics, we learnt five key things from Cameron's final prime minister's questions (PMQs).

The economic record

Cameron, who was in bullish mood during PMQs, was first elected to power at the 2010 general election. His appointment, which saw Cameron lead a coalition government with the Liberal Democrats, came two years after the 2008 financial crisis and the economy, understandably, was at the heart of the Tories' election manifesto.

The outgoing prime minister boasted that there were 2.5 million more jobs, 2.9 million extra apprenticeships and 300,000 fewer people in relative poverty under his watch. But for all of his and Chancellor George Osborne's financial accolades in power, SNP leader in Westminster Angus Robertson burst Cameron's bubble.

Robertson warned that Cameron had "taken the UK to the brink in Europe" by holding and losing the EU referendum. The Brexit vote has triggered economic turmoil and uncertainty for UK businesses.

'2-0 to the Tories'

Cameron relentlessly mocked Corbyn throughout their final showdown and the top Conservative made sure to remind the Labour leader that May will become the second female prime minister in the UK's history, following in the footsteps over the late Tory firebrand Margaret Thatcher. "When it comes to women prime ministers I'm very pleased to be able to say it's going to be 2-0," Cameron said, to cheers from the government benches.

Meanwhile, in a move reminiscent of Labour's Gordon Brown and unlike Tony Blair, Cameron confirmed he will stay on as MP after his resignation. The 49-year-old was first elected to the Oxfordshire seat of Witney in 2001 and the former PR man will continue to represent his constituents, at least for the short-term.

'I love Larry'

There had been numerous reports in the UK press over the past week that Cameron did not like Number 10's chief mouse catcher, 'Larry the Cat'. Some reports even claimed that the outgoing prime minister is dog lover, but Cameron produced photographic that he "loves" the feline, with a snap of Larry sitting on his lap. "The staff love him very much, as do I," Cameron told MPs. Larry, as the property of the Cabinet Office, will not move out of Downing Street with the Camerons.

Corbyn the Black Knight

Cameron channelled British comedy legends Monty Python to mock Corbyn's leadership crisis. The Old Etonian compared the Labour leader to the Black Knight, a character in the Holy Grail film who defiantly exclaimed "it's only a flesh wound" after having numerous limps chopped off. "I'm beginning to admire Corbyn's tenacity," Cameron quipped, weeks after he urged to him to resign as the opposition leader. "For heaven's sake man go," the outgoing prime minister declared.

Future of EU nationals

On a more serious subject, Cameron was quizzed over the future of the millions of EU nationals in the UK. So far May has refused to give them any reassurances over their future status, amid fears they could be deported back to their respective EU nations. The incoming prime minister's stance means she has been accused of using the EU nationals as a "bargaining chip" for future negotiations with Brussels.

But since Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty has not been triggered, the UK is still a member state and talks have not begun. Cameron called for "reciprocity" from the EU, while claiming there would be "absolutely no chance" the EU nationals living in the UK over the long-term would be deported.