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Brussels – EU chiefs told Britain to start negotiations to quit the bloc “as soon as possible”, after outgoing Prime Minister David Cameron said yesterday he would leave the negotiations to his successor.

“We now expect the United Kingdom government to give effect to this decision of the British people as soon as possible, however painful that process may be,” said a joint statement after Britons voted for a Brexit.

“Any delay would unnecessarily prolong uncertainty.”

The statement was issued by EU president Donald Tusk, European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker, EU Parliament leader Martin Schulz and Dutch premier Mark Rutte, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the bloc, after crisis talks in Brussels.

Cameron announced he would step down to make way for a new leader by October, adding that the new prime minister would be responsible for officially triggering Article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty to start Britain’s divorce from the bloc.

But European leaders made it clear they were keen to get the process over with as quickly as possible and wanted Britain to start talks immediately.

“We have rules to deal with this in an orderly way,” the joint statement said.

“We stand ready to launch negotiations swiftly with the United Kingdom regarding the terms and conditions of its withdrawal from the European Union.”

It added that Britain remained bound by EU law “until it is no longer a member.”

Meanwhile, Donald Trump hailed Britain’s vote to leave the EU as “fantastic” shortly after arriving in Scotland yesterday for his first international trip since becoming the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.

“I think it’s a great thing. I think it’s a fantastic thing,” he said.

Ahead of his visit, Trump had told Fox News that he felt Britain should “go it alone” and leave the 28-member EU in a move that could shape the continent.

Trump swooped down by helicopter into his Trump Turnberry golf course, where a large Scottish flag flew in front of the picturesque seafront, as protesters gathered nearby.

The visit is brief, long enough to cut the ribbon on a refurbishment of his golf course, returning to the US presidential campaign by today.

The New York celebrity tycoon has caused alarm in Europe with his abrasive style and pledges to deport millions of undocumented immigrants and build a wall on the border with Mexico.

His proposal to ban Muslims from entering the United States drew the ire of Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron, who called the idea “stupid, divisive and wrong”.

His main rival for the presidential vote in November, Hillary Clinton, seized the moment to post a video compilation of criticism from Cameron and others.

“People in Scotland are not thrilled about Trump coming to their country,” Clinton posted on Twitter. “We know the feeling.”

Two groups, Scotland Against Trump and Stand Up To Racism Scotland bussed protesters to the golf resort to picket the property mogul.

“Scotland is a progressive, tolerant and multicultural country and we oppose the bigotry that Donald Trump represents,” Keir McKechnie of Stand Up To Racism Scotland said.

“We want to tell the world that he’s not welcome here.”

Jonathon Shafi of Scotland Against Trump said he wanted the gathering to demonstrate unity with protesters in the United States that have disrupted Trump rallies. — AFP