Rory Stewart is to stand as an independent candidate to be mayor of London after quitting the Conservative Party.

The dramatic move comes after the former Tory leadership hopeful said he would stand down from his Cumbrian seat at the next general election.

Mr Stewart threw his hat into the ring for the 2020 mayoral race with a video message he used to good effect in raising his profile when he ran against Boris Johnson in the Tory leadership contest in June.

The former international development secretary was among the 21 rebel MPs, including two former chancellors, sacked by Mr Johnson last month for defying the government in a bid to block a no-deal Brexit.

I am running as an Independent candidate for Mayor of London, and here’s why.



Please join me in my campaign: https://t.co/8y3xWpl9hY#Rory4London pic.twitter.com/jnaNy8IF0s — Rory Stewart (@RoryStewartUK) October 4, 2019

Mr Stewart said at the time the move was "not a Conservative way of behaving".


Contesting the mayoral election will pitch him against Labour incumbent Sadiq Khan and Conservative candidate Shaun Bailey, who was backed by Mr Johnson in his Tory conference speech on Wednesday.

Mr Stewart warned of the danger of Brexit to the capital and said he wanted to combat "extremism" in UK politics as London mayor.

"I'm leaving that gothic shouting chamber of Westminster, I'm getting away from a politics which makes me sometimes feel as though [US President Donald] Trump has never left London," he said.

Sky's Rob Powell said Mr Stewart's run for office will come as a blow to the Conservative Party, as he threatens to split the Conservative vote to the benefit of Mr Khan.

The former diplomat's quirky approach, moderate credentials and colourful back story may also appeal to London voters, said Powell.

What a loss to politics. An outstanding MP & Minister. One of the strongest speakers in Parliament. Principled, patient, thoughtful. I feel certain he’ll be back . https://t.co/GPC5mfclLD — Amber Rudd MP (@AmberRuddHR) October 4, 2019

Prior to launching his mayoral bid, Mr Stewart had ruled out contesting his Penrith and The Border seat as an independent.

He said he did not want to "test loyalties" and "destroy old friendships" by running against former constituency colleagues, noting there was "enough toxic division in British politics".

But writing in his local newspaper, he also said he planned to stay involved in politics "endeavouring to make my voice heard" outside of parliament.

Robert Craig, president of the Penrith and The Border Conservative Association, said Mr Stewart would "possibly" not have made the decision if he still had the Tory whip.

He hailed Mr Stewart as an "inspirational" MP who managed to attract a broad church of followers, and criticised Mr Johnson for taking the party in an "extreme" direction.

Sept 2019: Purging MPs 'a panicked reaction'

Conservative former minister Tobias Ellwood said he was "really sorry" at the loss of Mr Stewart - who he had backed in the leadership contest - but knew he had not been happy with the direction of the party.

Mr Ellwood said: "I am with him on that. I am concerned at the way our party is looking in the fog of Brexit, that there is this potential drift to the right."

He urged Mr Stewart and Mr Bailey to talk to each other, adding: "Because unfortunately the beneficiary here is probably the incumbent because we will end up neutralising votes."

The 46-year-old old-Etonian was first elected to parliament in 2010.

His previous diplomatic career saw postings to Indonesia, Montenegro in the wake of the Kosovo crisis, and southern Iraq following the 2003 invasion.

He also served for a short time as an army officer in the Black Watch.

Mr Stewart's past, and giving his father was a senior MI6 officer, has led to speculation that he too was a secret agent.

Although denied by Mr Stewart, he admitted he would not be allowed to say he had been a spy if it were true.

His eventful life saw the rights to one of his books bought up by Brad Pitt's production company.

Mr Stewart joked that "the story of my life sounded really, really good and was really attractive to Brad Pitt until I became a Conservative MP, at which point he gave up on the whole thing".