Britain's European Union commissioner steps down after Brexit vote

Britain's European Commissioner Jonathan Hill announced today that he will stand down following his country's decision to leave the EU, saying he was "very disappointed" but "what is done cannot be undone."

"As we move to a new phase, I don't believe it is right that I should carry on as the British Commissioner as though nothing had happened," said a statement by Hill, who is commissioner for financial services.

"In line with what I discussed with the President of the Commission some weeks ago, I have therefore told him that I shall stand down," he said, referring to EU Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker.

Hill -- a former member of the House of Lords who was named by outgoing Prime Minister David Cameron as a member of Juncker's European Commission in 2014 -- called for an "orderly handover" to his successor.

"Like many people here and in the UK, I am obviously very disappointed about the result of the referendum. I wanted it to end differently... but the British people took a different decision, and that is the way that democracy works," he said.

Hill said he had come to Brussels despite being "sceptical about Europe" but had become convinced that "despite its frustrations, our membership was good for our place in the world and good for our economy."

"But what is done cannot be undone and now we have to get on with making our new relationship with Europe work as well as possible," he added.