British Prime Minister David Cameron and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker speak before a bilateral meeting on the first day of an EU summit meeting at the European Union headquarters in Brussels. Picture: AFP

Speaking one day after talks with Prime Minister David Cameron, Kerry said the outgoing British leader feels “powerless” to negotiate a departure he does not want.

“This is a very complicated divorce,” Kerry told the Aspen Ideas Festival, referring to Britain’s negotiated exit from the EU after last week’s “Brexit” referendum.

Kerry, who visited Downing Street on Monday, said Cameron was loath to invoke “Article 50” of the Lisbon treaty, which would trigger a two-year timetable for departure.

London, Kerry explained, does not want to find itself boxed in after two years without a new association agreement and to be forced out of the EU without one.

And, he added, Cameron “feels powerless - and I think this is a fair conclusion - to go out and start negotiating a thing that he doesn’t believe in and he has no idea how he would do it.

“And by the way, nor do most of the people who voted to do it,” Kerry said, apparently referring to “Leave” campaigners such as former London mayor Boris Johnson, now the frontrunner to replace Cameron as premier.

US Secretary of State John Kerry in London on Monday. Picture: Daniel Leal-Olivas/APSource:AP

Asked by the panel moderator if this meant the Brexit decision could be “walked back” and if so how, Kerry said: “I think there are a number of ways.”

“I don’t as Secretary of State want to throw them out today. I think that would be a mistake. But there are a number of ways,” he said.

Washington has long supported a strong role for its British ally in the European project, and was dismayed when British voters chose last week to quit the Union.

Now, US officials are calling for a calm debate on Brexit leading to a deal that would allow a close association between London and Brussels to continue.

Some EU leaders, however, insist that Cameron must move quickly to invoke Article 50 and begin divorce talks, to put an end to political and economic uncertainty

CROSBY COULD BE HELPING TO GET BORIS INTO NUMBER TEN

Sir Lynton Crosby, a former Conservative Party election campaign consultant. Picture: GettySource:Getty Images

Former London Mayor and prominent "Vote Leave" campaigner Boris Johnson. Picture: APSource:AP

Meanwhile, an Australian election strategist is reported to have had talks with Boris Johnson should he run for the Conservative party.

According to the Telegraph UK, sources said Sir Lynton Crosby is preparing to advise Johnson.

The Australian election campaign consultant, who was behind the Conservative Party’s 2015 general election victory, is understood to have met Johnson in recent days.

Crosby ran both of Mr Johnson’s campaigns to become the mayor of London.

The report comes as Prime Minister David Cameron is in Brussels for discussions with European leaders about the UK’s exit from the EU, after an earlier session of the European Parliament saw Ukip leader Nigel Farage booed.

European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker has also urged Mr Cameron to clarify quickly when Britain intends to leave the EU, saying there can be no negotiation on future ties before London formally applies to exit.

“I will see the prime minister later this morning... to ask him to clarify the situation as rapidly as possible. We cannot get into a period of extended uncertainty,” Mr Juncker told the European Parliament, adding: “No notification, no negotiation”.

Echoing the leaders of Germany, France and Italy after their meeting in Berlin on Monday, Mr Juncker also said that there could not even be informal discussions until London has formally filed for divorce from the 28-nation bloc.

British Prime Minister David Cameron shakes hands with European Union Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker prior to a meeting at the European Union Commission headquarters. Picture: AFPSource:AFP

FARAGE ANGERS OTHER MEPS

UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader Nigel Farage attends a plenary session at the EU headquarters in Brussels. Picture: AFPSource:AFP

Mr Farage was also booed and jeered when he urged Europe to give Britain a good trade deal when it leaves, saying jobs in Germany’s auto sector might be at stake if it doesn’t.

“Why don’t we just be pragmatic, sensible, grown-up, reasonable ... and cut a sensible tariff-free deal?” he asked.

In a speech interrupted several times, Mr Farage warned: “The UK will not be the last member state to leave the European Union.”

“Isn’t it funny? When I came here 17 years ago and I said that I wanted to lead a campaign to get Britain out of the European Union, you all laughed at me. Well, I have to say, you’re not laughing now, are you?”

“Now, I know that virtually none of you have ever done a proper job in your lives or worked in business or worked in trade or indeed ever created a job. But listen, just listen.”

MERKEL DOESN’T WANT EU TO SPLIT UP

German Chancellor Angela Merkel listens to debates after she addressed the Bundestag with a government declaration on the recent Brexit vote in Berlin, Germany. Picture: GettySource:Getty Images

German Chancellor Angela Merkel later said she will use “all her strength” to prevent the EU from drifting apart. She and other EU leaders were beginning a two-day summit to hear Cameron’s position and chart the way forward.

Ms Merkel said she expects that Britain will want to maintain “close relations” with the EU once it leaves, but warned it cannot expect a business-as-usual approach.

“Whoever wants to leave this family cannot expect to have no more obligations but to keep privileges,” she said. “We will ensure that the negotiations are not carried out with the principle of cherry picking.”

She and other leaders joined Juncker in saying there can be no talks with Britain until it starts the formal procedure to leave.

REVOLT AGAINST CORBYN CONTINUES

Police officers escort Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn from his home in London. Picture: GettySource:Getty Images

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was stunningly heckled as he entered parliament by his own benches, where 20 of his shadow cabinet MPs have now resigned in the last day and a half backed incredibly by a further 25 other junior and backbench MPs.

Labour MPs overwhelmingly passed a no confidence motion in Jeremy Corbyn 172 votes to 40. A leadership challenge is now seen as imminent

However, Mr Corbyn said he would not step down, saying he had been elected by the party base and would stand again.

Mr Corbyn and Prime Minister David Cameron, both deemed political dead men walking, returned to parliament yesterday for the first time since the stunning referendum last week that now sees the UK on the way out of the EU.

The fallout from Brexit continued with the pound and FTSE 250 again slumping, ratings agency Standard & Poor stripping Britain of its AAA status, and European leaders declaring they would refuse to deal with the UK until it formally enacted the mechanisms for its departure.

CAMERON AND CORBYN BLAME EACH OTHER

British Prime Minister David Cameron giving a statement in Parliament in London. Picture: AFPSource:AFP

Mr Corbyn and Mr Cameron continued business as usual, both blaming each other for the Brexit from across the dispatch box but calling for level-headed calm.

Mr Cameron began the parliamentary session to roars of laughter as he welcomed a new Labour MP for the first time to the chamber and suggested she keep her mobile phone close as she could end up on the Labour front bench by the end of the day.

On a more serious note he said the UK should stay in EU’s single market, its economy was strong to weather any further shocks, and reiterated the country would not be rushed into negotiations for the exit.

“Before we do that we need to determine the kind of relationship we want with the EU and that is rightly something for the next prime minister and their cabinet to decide,” Mr Cameron said. “This is our sovereign decision and it will be for Britain and Britain alone to take.”

Mr Corbyn blamed internal factions on both sides of the House for his woes.

“Our country is divided and the country will thank neither the benches in front of me, nor those behind, for indulging in internal faction manoeuvring at this time,” he said. “We have serious matters to discuss in this House and in the country.”

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is still facing revolt from his MPs. Picture: GettySource:Getty Images

In an earlier meeting with his party described by Labour MPs as “hostile”, Mr Corbyn was told “for your sake but most importantly for the sake of the people who need a Labour government, do the decent thing”.

Chris Bryant, former shadow Commons leader, said: “The writing on the wall is eight metres high and if he can’t see it he needs to go to Specsavers.”

Meanwhile, US secretary of state John Kerry has urged Europe’s leaders to avoid anger and retribution as they negotiate the terms of Britain’s EU withdrawal.

Mr Kerry who flew into London yesterday in a show of support for the stunned nation, told Euro leaders any willingness to “cut off your nose to spite your face” would have repercussions that extended beyond Europe.