Rory Stewart ‘to front campaign group’ if Boris Johnson becomes PM

Rory Stewart is planning to launch a campaign organisation if Boris Johnson becomes Prime Minister, it has been reported.



Yahoo Finance UK reports that Mr Stewart's aides are looking to build on the momentum of his leadership campaign.

The intention is to “attack Boris [Johnson’s] lies over the reality of Brexit”, one source is reported as saying, and the move could involve visiting places like Middlesbrough which are likely to be affected by a hard exit from the European Union.

His plans following a victory for Mr Johnson could reportedly involve a continuation of the "Rory walks" video series in which Mr Stewart walked around different parts of the country meeting people and uploaded his encounters to social media.

Mr Stewart is also said to have been in discussion with a new Tory group coordinated by Chancellor Phillip Hammond and Conservative backbnenchers Ken Clarke and Dominic Grieve aimed at countering the pro-Brexit European Research Group.

The International Development Secretary has previously said he will not serve in a government led by Mr Johnson.