Nigel Farage has said Britain is heading for a recession, but it has nothing to do with Brexit.
Mr Farage rejected claims that the UK economy would suffer after leaving the European Union, despite the pound falling to its lowest value in 30 years.
The City’s trading floors were thrown into chaos as markets were rocked by Thursday’s result.
However Mr Farage said Britain's exit from the Union, for which he has campaigned for 25 years, would not be damaging.
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"There's nothing new here," he told the Sunday Telegraph.
"I think we are going into a mild recession anyway, completely regardless of Brexit. Our growth forecasts are down. Our public-sector borrowing is still not under control at all and everyone forgets that sterling is in a bear market, declining since July 2014."
Mr Farage said "increased global opportunities" await outside the single market.
"There is no reason why we really couldn't be benefiting two years from now," he told the newspaper.
He said he felt sympathy for Mr Cameron, but it was now time for a pro-Brexit government led by a pro-Brexit prime minister.
He stopped short of backing any particular candidate, but said he would be "happy" to see Boris Johnson, Michael Gove or Liam Fox in the post.
"Brexit prime minister, that's all I want," he said.
