Politicians in Wandsworth have reacted to the news that Britain will be leaving the European Union and that Prime Minister David Cameron will step down as leader by the party's autumn conference.

In the run-up to the referendum, Wandsworth's political figures looked overwhelmingly in favour of staying, with many councillors and all three MPs announcing their intention to vote remain.

The borough recorded a turnout of more than 70 per cent and 75 per cent of votes cast were in favour of remain.

Putney, Roehampton and Southfields MP Justine Greening, who campaigned for remain, said: "This isn't the path I wanted Britain to take but we need to respect the result and do our best to confront the challenges brexit now brings.

"The result was not one I wanted but hope lasting legacy will be that a new generation of young voters took their place in our democracy.

"Very sad to see PM announce he is standing down, a dignified, heartfelt statement to the British people."

EU Referendum 2016: As Britain votes to leave, did Croydon, Sutton, Merton, Wandsworth, Richmond, Kingston and Epsom vote for remain or Brexit?

Prime Minister David Cameron to RESIGN as Britain votes to leave the European Union

Wandsworth council's cabinet member for finance Guy Senior said: "I am absolutely delighted.

"I have disliked the EU as long as I can remember, it is undemocratic and corrupt and I think [the result] is fantastic.

"It is a revolt against the metropolitan elite and I am really pleased."

Cllr Senior said that unlike some other areas in the country, Wandsworth was not likely to be impacted by a loss of funding, as it does not often apply for EU grants.

He said: "On occasions when we have received the grants we have thought 'Would we spend all this money on that? Of course not.' 

"It is nothing we would ever spend our own money on.

"I am aware that Wandsworth as a whole voted to remain and I am not surprised by that."

Leader of Wandsworth Council Ravi Govindia said it was great to see such high turnout in the borough as well as in the country.

He said: "It is refreshing to see high turnout, welcome back participation.

"I also think if you ask the question you must not be afraid of the answer.

"As Wandsworth leader I do not have much to do with foreign affairs. I have been very sceptical of Europe, but it is an important part of our economy.

"As someone who comes from abroad I can see the big world picture."

Cllr Govindia said it made "some sense" for Mr Cameron to step down from office by autumn.

He said: "Whoever negotiates must have the confidence of the wider public.

"We may have frozen government as it were.

"We live in a parliamentary democracy not a presidency, so when Gordon Brown became leader we had the same questions of should he or shouldn't he seek a mandate."

Cllr Govindia did not indicate who he would support for next leader of the Conservative party. 

Tooting MP Rosena Allin-Khan said: "I'm shocked.

"All the reasons we were campaigning to remain in the EU still stand. We were putting across the message during the by-election that for our local economy, for our jobs, for our security, for our air quality, for workers' rights, we were better off in the EU.

"All of that stands and affects Tooting."

The former junior doctor said: "Some of the analysis with respect to the NHS has a real issue, we have St George's Hospital as the biggest employer in Tooting.

"The EU Working Time Directive protects hospital staff.

"Three million jobs in Britain are directly related to our relationship with the EU and many of them are held by residents of Tooting.

"There are so many ways this will impact them."

Dr Allin-Khan said there was no need for the Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn to stand down, but called for unity to heal the divisions created by the referendum campaign.

She said: "There has been confusion from a divided Conservative Party which has contributed to this result.

"We should continue to be united through the next difficult few months."

The mother-of-two, who has been MP for one week, admitted it was unusual that although millions of people had voted in the referendum, the next leader of the Conservative Party and therefore the next Prime Minister, would be decided by party members only.

She said: "He [David Cameron] has created more insecurity for the British public.

"He led everyone to believe that he would not do that and to do it the same morning, I think has left people feeling disappointed and without a leader who can navigate this difficult time."

Leonie Cooper, London Assembly Member for Merton and Wandsworth, took pride in the region’s overwhelming support for the remain campaign but said she feared for the ramifications of Brexit on poorer residents

She said: "It will definitely be the poorest in society that will be hit hardest." 

A spokesman for St George’s University of London, said: "Following yesterday’s referendum result, we are reassuring our students that leaving the European Union will not happen overnight. There will be a managed process over the coming months and years.

"St George’s remains committed to our staff and students from the EU and to our international partnerships. Our commitment to working with our academic colleagues within the EU remains undiminished in pursuit of excellence of research."

Professor Paul O’Prey, vice-chancellor of the University of Roehampton said: "The University of Roehampton is proud to have a number of very talented and dedicated staff and students who come to us from EU partner countries.

"They make a terrific contribution to the University and to the life of our local community in Wandsworth.

"Roehampton is a very diverse and open university and is committed to educating its students in a cosmopolitan environment, which means we will continue to welcome students from continental Europe and the rest of the world."

The Mayor of London, and former Tooting MP Sadiq Khan said it was right to recognise the will of the British people.

He said: "We are going to carry on being an open-minded, outward-looking country.

"It is really important when we negotiate with the EU that we get a single market access for our businesses.

"What is really important is that we are still a leading global city."