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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 10 years.Mr Stewart tweeted it had been a "great privilege" to serve Penrith and The Border for the last 10 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 at the next election and quitting the Conservative Party. General election
His Conservative rival, Mr Bailey, said he welcomed "any candidate's decision to stand and hold Mr Khan to account over his woeful record in London".
He said he would "continue to focus on serious violent crime and how we're going to get a grip on the violence on our streets".
It comes after Mr Stewart's announcement that he was stepping down as an MP at the next election and quitting the Conservative Party.
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.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''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.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.""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.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.
Mr Stewart first publically mentioned his resignation on stage at a charity event at London's Royal Albert Hall on Thursday evening, but it was not widely reported.Mr Stewart first publically mentioned his resignation on stage at a charity event at London's Royal Albert Hall on Thursday evening, but it was not widely reported.
'Great shame''Great shame'
Writing for his constituency newspaper, the Cumberland and Westmorland Herald, Mr Stewart said: "As you will be aware, I am no longer allowed to run as Conservative MP in Penrith and The Border. Writing for his constituency newspaper, the Cumberland and Westmorland Herald, Mr Stewart 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." 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."
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, adding: "It's a 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, adding: "It's a great shame."
A Conservative Party spokesperson said: "We would like to thank Rory for his hard work and wish him all the best for the future."A Conservative Party spokesperson said: "We would like to thank Rory for his hard work and wish him all the best for the future."
A Conservative parliamentary candidate for Penrith and The Border will be selected "in due course", a statement added.A Conservative parliamentary candidate for Penrith and The Border will be selected "in due course", a statement added.
Who is Rory Stewart?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.
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 to step down as an MP 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".
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, before Mr Stewart announced his London mayoral candidacy, that he was an "outstanding minister" and it was a "loss" to politics.
But Conservative MP Shailesh Vara said Mr Stewart's departure did not make the Conservatives "any less One Nation".But Conservative MP Shailesh Vara said Mr Stewart's departure did not make the Conservatives "any less One Nation".
Who are the other London mayoral candidates?Who are the other London mayoral candidates?