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Ex-Tory MP Rory Stewart stands down to run for London mayor Ex-Tory MP Rory Stewart stands down to run for London mayor
(32 minutes later)
Former Conservative leadership candidate Rory Stewart is quitting as an MP to run for London mayor as an independent candidate.Former Conservative leadership candidate Rory Stewart is quitting as an MP to run for London mayor as an independent candidate.
He will stand in next year's election against current Labour mayor Sadiq Khan and Tory candidate Shaun Bailey.He will stand in next year's election against current Labour mayor Sadiq Khan and Tory candidate Shaun Bailey.
Mr Stewart tweeted it had been a "great privilege" to serve Penrith and The Border for the last ten years.Mr Stewart tweeted it had been a "great privilege" to serve Penrith and The Border for the last ten years.
He was expelled from the Tories in the Commons with 20 other Brexit rebels, but remained a member of the party.He was expelled from the Tories in the Commons with 20 other Brexit rebels, but remained a member of the party.
Mr Stewart announced his intention to stand for London mayor in a video on Twitter, saying: "I'm leaving that gothic shouting chamber of Westminster.Mr Stewart announced his intention to stand for London mayor in a video on Twitter, saying: "I'm leaving that gothic shouting chamber of Westminster.
"I'm getting away from a politics which makes me sometimes feel as though Trump has never left London and I want to walk through every borough of this great city to get back to us on the ground.""I'm getting away from a politics which makes me sometimes feel as though Trump has never left London and I want to walk through every borough of this great city to get back to us on the ground."
It comes after his announcement that he was stepping down as an MP and quitting the Conservative Party earlier. It comes after his announcement that he was stepping down as an MP at the next election and quitting the Conservative Party.
Writing for his local newspaper, the Cumberland and Westmorland Herald, he said: "As you will be aware, I am no longer allowed to run as Conservative MP in Penrith and The Border. The next scheduled general election is in 2022, but it is widely anticipated a snap poll is imminent, with the prime minister urging MPs to support his call for one. The London mayoral election will be held on 7 May, 2020.
'Increasingly aggressive'
In an interview with London's Evening Standard, Mr Stewart said: "It's always difficult to run against your own party. It's been a painful journey for me. I suppose it was really crystallised when I had the Conservative whip removed.
"I've been proud to be a member of the Conservative Party. There are many values I share with it. I parted company largely over Brexit and the tone of the party, which has become increasingly aggressive."
He has also written an open letter to Londoners in the paper, saying he will make a stand against the "mutual insults... lazy habits, half-baked ideas and pointless compromises" of party politics.
Writing for his constituency newspaper, the Cumberland and Westmorland Herald, he said: "As you will be aware, I am no longer allowed to run as Conservative MP in Penrith and The Border.
"Because I have loved the constituency so much, I had considered standing as an Independent; but I have decided that I wouldn't want to run against those Conservative members who have been such wonderful colleagues over the last 10 years.""Because I have loved the constituency so much, I had considered standing as an Independent; but I have decided that I wouldn't want to run against those Conservative members who have been such wonderful colleagues over the last 10 years."
In his newspaper column, he said he was "hugely grateful" for the support he had received from members of his local party, but added: "It should be no secret that there are also local party members who would rather I did not run again."In his newspaper column, he said he was "hugely grateful" for the support he had received from members of his local party, but added: "It should be no secret that there are also local party members who would rather I did not run again."
'Great shame''Great shame'
Robert Craig, president of the Penrith and The Border Conservative Association, said Mr Stewart may not have resigned if he had not had the whip removed by the prime minister.Robert Craig, president of the Penrith and The Border Conservative Association, said Mr Stewart may not have resigned if he had not had the whip removed by the prime minister.
"It's a great shame and it is not unexpected given he is still out in the wilderness with the whip removed," he said."It's a great shame and it is not unexpected given he is still out in the wilderness with the whip removed," he said.
"I suppose had that changed... it seems to have become clear that that wasn't going to change and he has other ambitions."
He praised Mr Stewart as an "inspirational" MP who had attracted a broad church of followers, and criticised Mr Johnson for taking the party in an "extreme" direction.He praised Mr Stewart as an "inspirational" MP who had attracted a broad church of followers, and criticised Mr Johnson for taking the party in an "extreme" direction.
Who is Rory Stewart?
Prime Minister Boris Johnson expelled 21 MPs from the Parliamentary party at the start of September after they rebelled against him in a bid to prevent a no-deal Brexit.Prime Minister Boris Johnson expelled 21 MPs from the Parliamentary party at the start of September after they rebelled against him in a bid to prevent a no-deal Brexit.
Some long-serving figures - such as Ken Clarke and Sir Nicholas Soames - are planning to stand down at the next election, while others, such as former Chancellor Philip Hammond and former attorney general Dominic Grieve - are reported to be considering standing as independents.Some long-serving figures - such as Ken Clarke and Sir Nicholas Soames - are planning to stand down at the next election, while others, such as former Chancellor Philip Hammond and former attorney general Dominic Grieve - are reported to be considering standing as independents.
'Last rites' Sam Gyimah, another of the expelled rebels, who has now joined the Liberal Democrats, tweeted that Mr Stewart's decision to step down showed the Conservative Party's "soul has been captured by those who want to turn it into a nationalist party".
Sam Gyimah, another of the expelled rebels, who has now joined the Liberal Democrats, tweeted that Mr Stewart's decision showed the Conservative Party's "soul has been captured by those who want to turn it into a nationalist party".
Former Tory MP Nick Boles, who resigned from the Conservatives earlier this year, tweeted that Mr Stewart's departure showed that the "last rites are being read for moderate One Nation conservatism".Former Tory MP Nick Boles, who resigned from the Conservatives earlier this year, tweeted that Mr Stewart's departure showed that the "last rites are being read for moderate One Nation conservatism".
He added: "A sad day for British politics but a personal liberation for Rory who will go on to greater things, no doubt."He added: "A sad day for British politics but a personal liberation for Rory who will go on to greater things, no doubt."
Mr Stewart's former cabinet colleague, Amber Rudd, tweeted that Mr Stewart was an "outstanding minister" and it was a "loss" to politics.Mr Stewart's former cabinet colleague, Amber Rudd, tweeted that Mr Stewart was an "outstanding minister" and it was a "loss" to politics.
Former Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson tweeted: "Very sorry to see. Our party should have room for talented, experienced and committed people from across the Conservative spectrum."Former Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson tweeted: "Very sorry to see. Our party should have room for talented, experienced and committed people from across the Conservative spectrum."
Mr Stewart is a former foreign office official who was the deputy governor of two Iraqi provinces before entering politics. But Conservative MP Shailesh Vara said Mr Stewart's departure did not make the Conservatives "any less One Nation".
He was elected to the Commons in 2010 and is a former international development secretary and prisons minister.
He did better than initially expected in July's Conservative leadership contest, making it through the first two rounds of voting and eventually coming fifth.
A Remain supporter in the 2016 referendum, he went on to back then prime minister Theresa May's withdrawal deal.
Labour MP Harriet Harman tweeted that she had been "sorry" to see Mr Stewart stand down as prisons minister as he had been "determined on reform" and was now "sad" to see him leave Parliament.Labour MP Harriet Harman tweeted that she had been "sorry" to see Mr Stewart stand down as prisons minister as he had been "determined on reform" and was now "sad" to see him leave Parliament.