Communal bodies have paid tribute to David Cameron after he announced his decision to step down as Prime Minister of the UK.

Mr Cameron announced the decision outside Downing Street at around 8:15am this morning.

The announcement came after Britain voted to leave the European Union, by 51.9 per cent to 48.1 per cent.

He said he still believed that the country was “stronger, safer and better off inside the EU” – announcing that a new leader would be better placed to negotiate Brexit.

He said a new leader would be in place before the Tory conference in October.

In his resignation speech he said: "The country has just taken part in a giant democratic exercise – perhaps the biggest in our history. Over 33 million people – from England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Gibraltar – have all had their say.

We should be proud of the fact that in these islands we trust the people with these big decisions.

Now the decision has been made to leave, we need to find the best way, and I will do everything I can to help.

I love this country – and I feel honoured to have served it.

And I will do everything I can in future to help this great country succeed."

Reacting to the decision, Lord Polak, honorary president of Conservative Friends of Israel, told the JC: "The Jewish community and Israel should be very sad today, but also deeply grateful to David Cameron who has been and is an outstanding friend."

Israeli MK Gilad Erdan, the Minister of Public Security and strategic issues, said Mr Cameron was a true friend of Israel. He said his decision to resign was "sad and unfortunate but proves he was a responsible leader and a fair and true gentlemen".

Conservative party chairman Lord Andrew Feldman is also set to step down after the Brexit win. The Jewish peer is set to leave his office at the same time as the prime minister ahead of the Tory autumn conference.

Meanwhile, Labour MPs have called on party leader Jeremy Corbyn to resign in wake of the result.

Mr Corbyn, who campaigned to remain in the EU, was accused of alienating Labour voters over his refusal to address concerns on immigration.

On Friday afternoon, two Labour MPs - Margaret Hodge, who is Jewish, and Ann Coffey - submitted a motion of no confidence against Mr Corbyn.

They submitted it in a letter to the party chairman. The motion is set to be discussed at the next Parliamentary Labour Party meeting.

During a tour of his Turnberry golf-course in Scotland today, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump welcomed Brexit - but refused to address Mr Cameron's decision to resign from office.

Billionaire Mr Trump said: "They took back their country, it's a great thing."

Far-right leaders, including France's Marine Le Pen, have welcomed Brexit. Reports say Denmark and Holland are considering holding their own referendum on membership of the EU.

Meanwhile, communal organisations have reacted to the Vote Leave outcome.

Jonathan Arkush, president of the representative body of British Jews, is set to brief international Jewish organisations throughout the day, a spokesman confirmed.

A spokesman said: "We did not take a position on the EU referendum, but the Board of Deputies has a long history of engagement with the EU’s institutions and has provided a space for the community to discuss this issue in a recent debate.

"While the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union will undoubtedly change the nature of our organisation’s relationship with the EU, we will nonetheless continue to work with colleagues and organisations across Europe as part of our broader programme of advocacy on international issues of concern to the Jewish people."

Richard Verber, senior vice-president, said: “The referendum campaign has at times been divisive and bruising but we hope that the country will now come together, address the causes of disenchantment and remain committed to being an inclusive and affirmative place for all parts of our society. The Board of Deputies will be closely monitoring developments in the coming weeks and months and any implications these may have for our community.”

Reacting to Mr Cameron's resignation, Board of Deputies Chief Executive Gillian Merron said: "We want to extend our community's heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister David Cameron for his service of the country and his friendship to our community. His legacy will be as someone who did not run away from difficult questions, but put them to the British people to decide.

"We will continue to work with the Prime Minister and his government over the next months, and will of course continue to build on that strong relationship with his eventual successor."

CFI thanks Prime Minister David Cameron for his “genuine friendship”

Following Prime Minister David Cameron’s announcement to step down after the UK voted to leave the European Union, CFI has thanked the Prime Minister for his “genuine friendship” and for everything he has done to “strengthen the relationship between Israel and the United Kingdom”.

Conservative Friends of Israel said the Jewish Community and Israel "should be very sad today" at the Prime Minister's decision, "but also deeply grateful to David Cameron who has been, and is, an outstanding friend".

In a statement, CFI's parliamentary chairman, Sir Eric Pickles, its honorary president, Lord Polak and CFI’s executive director James Gurd said: “The Prime Minister has been resolute in the fight against antisemitism and has ensured the UK will have a national memorial to the Holocaust and a world-class learning centre.

"Time and again, the PM stood firmly by Israel’s side, delivering a landmark speech on the floor of the Knesset. He has overseen record levels of UK-Israel trade, rejected the divisive BDS movement, stopped politically-motivated councils boycotting Israel, amended universal jurisdiction legislation, and led the EU-wide proscription of Hizbollah’s military wing. These are remarkable achievements.

“CFI would like to sincerely thank the Prime Minister for his genuine friendship and for everything he has done to strengthen the relationship between Israel and the United Kingdom”.

Organisations also paid tribute to Mr Cameron's work advocating Holocaust education.

Karen Pollock, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said: “The Prime Minister has always been a staunch friend of our cause and our community and we thank him for his years of support, not only for our Lessons from Auschwitz Project giving thousands of young people from across the country the opportunity to see where prejudice and hatred can lead - more crucial now than ever before - but also his establishment of the national Holocaust Commission and soon to be created Holocaust memorial beside our Parliament, which will ensure there is a lasting tribute to the Holocaust in this country for generations to come. This is a legacy for which we hope he is proud.”

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis spoke out after the vote.

He said: “Whatever your view of the EU referendum, whether you are celebrating this morning or feeling apprehensive about the result, one thing is certain: the respective campaigns that led us to this point have sharply divided our country. But the time for disagreement and division is now over. It is more essential than ever before that we unite so that the ensuing political upheaval does not adversely affect the most vulnerable in our society and that our moral leadership role in the world remains undiminished."

He added: "It is my hope and prayer that the polarisation of the national debate about Europe will now give way to a composed recognition of our common values of respect and responsibility. May the Almighty bless our political leaders with the wisdom and understanding to successfully chart this new course for the British people.”

Reacting to the vote to leave, Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner, of the movement for Reform Judaism, said: "During this time of uncertainty I hope that our national conversation will be one of dignified dialogue, respecting difference and our fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law and respect and tolerance."

She added: "In a world of fast changing challenges we must reject isolation and continue to engage with the world, working in constructive partnership with our European neighbours on the many issues that unite us."

Rabbi Danny Rich, of Liberal Judaism, said people had a duty to support the most vulnerable amid fears of an economic downturn.

He said: "If the United Kingdom is to undergo a short or long term economic downturn, Judaism demands protection for the weakest and most vulnerable in our society. The more fortunate (in an economic sense) of us must pay the price."

He added: "It behoves all of us – particularly those in the public eye - to work together to fulfil the mission of Judaism, and presumably that of the politic too, to enhance the moral quality of our society so that the United Kingdom can be a beacon of ethical idealism in which freedom, justice and compassion are enhanced and from which regional and international responsibilities can be shared."