David Cameron said he would miss the “roar of the crowd” as he bowed out as prime minister to a standing ovation yesterday.
Watched by his wife Samantha and their children, he received thunderous applause from the Tory back benches and was also congratulated by some of the Opposition.
But SNP Westminster Leader Angus Robertson told him his legacy would be as the man who took the UK to the brink of Brexit.
The Moray MP criticised him for trying to take Scotland out of the EU “against the wishes of Scottish voters” and over his government’s policy on Trident.
Mr Cameron was cheered as he entered the Commons chamber for his last Prime Minister’s Questions and final turn at the despatch box.
His successor Theresa May – beaming from ear to ear – was given a similar reception.
The outgoing PM used the occasion to pay tribute to the work and passion of MPs across the political divide.
He said: “I will miss the roar of the crowd, I will miss the barbs from the Opposition, but I will be willing you on.
“And when I say willing you on, I don’t just mean willing on the new prime minister at this despatch box or indeed just willing on the frontbench defending the manifesto that I helped to put together.
“But I mean willing all of you on. Because people come here with huge passion for the issues they care about, they come here with great love for the constituencies that they represent.
“And also willing on this place, because yes we can be pretty tough and test and challenge our leaders, perhaps more than some other countries, but that is something we should be proud of and we should keep at it.
“And I hope you will all keep at it and I will will you on as you do.
“You can achieve a lot of things in politics … In the end, public service, the national interest, that’s what it’s all about.”
Mr Robertson and Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn both wished Mr Cameron and his family well, with the latter also commending him for the introduction of equal marriage.
But – in contrast to the mostly light-hearted mood of the session – the SNP MP used his questions to hit out at the PM’s decision to hold the EU referendum.
He said: “The prime minister’s legacy will undoubtedly be that he has taken us to the brink of being taken out of the European Union so we will not be applauding his premiership on these benches.”
He asked: “What advice have you given your successor on taking Scotland out of the EU against the wishes of Scottish voters?”
Mr Cameron said his advice was that the UK should be “as close to the EU as we can be for the benefits of trade, of cooperation and of security”.
He added: “The Channel will not get any wider once we leave the European Union and that is the relationship we should seek.
“That will be good for the UK and good for Scotland.”
Mr Robertson also asked how he thought next week’s vote on Trident renewal would go down in Scotland.
Mr Cameron said it was right MPs would have their say, adding: “Many people in Scotland support our nuclear deterrent.”
He later appeared with his family outside Downing Street – where they enjoyed a group hug on the steps of Number 10.
They then travelled to Buckingham Palace where he formally resigned at a private audience with the Queen. At 49, he is the youngest person to leave prime ministerial office for more than a century.
As the Queen is above party politics and does not appoint the PM, his last duty was to advise her to invite Mrs May to form the next administration.