David Cameron: I don’t want to serve third term as Prime Minister

David Cameron has said he does not want to stand for a third term as British Prime Minister because a “fresh pair of eyes and fresh leadership would be good”.

In a candid interview with the BBC at his home in Oxfordshire, Cameron said there are some “tremendous people coming up” including George Osborne, the Chancellor, Theresa May, the Home Secretary, and Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London.

He said that while he feels “fit and healthy enough to do the job” and has the “passion” to stand for another five years, he is not “contemplating” a third term beyond that.

He compared being Prime Minister to Shredded Wheat. He said: “Terms are like Shredded wheat. Two are wonderful, three might just be too many.”

His admission is unusual as politicians are notoriously wary of suggesting they will stand down for fear of creating political instability.

It is likely to spark intense speculation about who will succeed Cameron, an issue which is likely to dominate the next Parliament if the Conservatives win.

The comments mark the first time Cameron has spoken about whether he would serve a third term as Prime Minister. It has previously been assumed that he would stand down in 2018 following a referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union.

A senior Downing Street source said: “It does not definitively mean that he wouldn’t fight a third election. He is saying he wouldn’t do 15 years in office. Consider the Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair – 15 years is a long time.”

Cameron said: “I’m putting myself forward for the full five years. I feel fit enough and healthy enough to do the job. I’ve got a real passion for it and I’m really keen to win. If I fall short I’ll be disappointed.”

Asked if he was prepared to stand for a third term, however, he said: “No, I’m standing for a full second term. I’m not saying all Prime Minister’s all necessarily definitely go mad, or even go mad at the same rate, but I think I’ve got more to bring in this job. The economy has turned round, the deficit is down, I want to finish the job.”

On potential successors, he said: “There definitely comes a time where a fresh pair of eyes and fresh leadership would be good. The Conservative Party has got some tremendous people coming up. The Theresa May’s and the George Osborne’s and the Boris Johnson’s. There’s plenty of talent there.”

His comments are unusual for a Prime Minister. The late Baroness Thatcher insisted she would “go on and on and on” before she stepped down, while Tony Blair infuriated Gordon Brown by announcing his intention to serve a full third term after the General Election in 2005, reports The Telegraph.