Return of the Rory Stewart show? Ex-Cabinet minister says he is ‘actively’ mulling a political comeback… as Tories mount frantic hunt for London mayor candidate to take on Sadiq Khan
- Rory Stewart said chances of him coming back to political front line are 50-50
Rory Stewart has hinted at a political comeback – as the Tories mount a desperate hunt for a candidate to take on Sadiq Khan next year.
The former Cabinet minister said he is ‘actively’ considering a return, putting the chances of it happening at ’50-50′.
Mr Stewart mounted a colourful Conservative leadership challenge in 2019, making no secret of his Remainer views and eventually losing out to Boris Johnson.
After quitting the Tories and standing down as an MP he then launched an independent bid for London mayor – but abandoned the idea when Covid hit and the poll was delayed.
He has since built up his profile by presenting the popular Rest is Politics podcast with Labour former spin doctor Alastair Campbell.
Speaking on the Crisis, What Crisis? podcast with Andy Coulson, Mr Stewart said a political return is ‘not beyond the realms of possibility’
Mr Stewart mounted a colourful Conservative leadership challenge in 2019, making no secret of his Remainer views and eventually losing out to Boris Johnson
Speaking on the Crisis, What Crisis? podcast with Andy Coulson, Mr Stewart said a return is ‘not beyond the realms of possibility’.
‘Definitely something I think about actively a lot,’ he said.
‘Not something that I’ve quite worked out whether or how to do. But yeah definitely an option in my life.’
Pressed on the chances, he added: ‘I’d say 50-50 at the moment.’
Mr Stewart did not specify what political post he might be interested in.
The signal comes amid increasing questions in Conservative circles over who will face Mr Khan in the capital’s contest next May.
Insiders believe the party will need a ‘name’ candidate to attract voters and funding, while Mr Stewart’s record as an opponent of Brexit could help in London.
Shaun Bailey performed much better than most predicted in 2021. But there are not seen as many obvious choices this time round.
‘You can’t have a Brexiteer running in London really,’ one source told MailOnline. ‘Most mayors get two terms, but a third is a big ask.
‘You would think Khan would be there for the taking, but there are economic headwinds.’
The veteran London Tory added: ‘You can almost see a situation where Stewart runs as an independent and then the Tories pick him up.
‘It is only a year away. You have not got huge time.’
Any Conservative hopeful will need to take a strong stance on Mr Khan’s controversial expansion of Ulez, which looks set to be a crucial issue.
If it goes ahead, drivers in outer London will pay a £12.50 daily fee from August 29 if their vehicles do not meet the required emissions standards.
The signal comes amid increasing questions in Conservative circles over who will face Sadiq Khan in the capital’s contest next May
The boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Harrow and Hillingdon along with Surrey County Council launched legal action in February over the proposed extension beyond the North and South Circular roads.
A judge at the High Court this week decided their bid for a judicial review can go ahead, saying parts of the local authorities’ challenge were ‘arguable’.
Mr Khan said today: ‘I think it’s important for these Conservative councillors who’ve got concerns… if they want to challenge this in the courts (they) are free to do so – I think it’s a waste of taxpayers’ money. Local residents would rather these be used on the libraries.’
Mr Stewart staged a social media-heavy Tory campaign in 2019, including a #RoryWalks tour of various parts of the UK such as east London, Warrington and Wigan, to talk to normal people.
It prompted memes where people joked that they were scared to leave their homes in case he appeared.
In one memorable incident a seemingly despairing Mr Stewart ripped off his tie at the end of a televised debate with his rivals.
There was also a bizarre trend for ‘crushing’ on Mr Stewart, and his admission that he once smoked opium.
The then-International Development Secretary said he was wrong to accept a pipe that was being passed around at a wedding he attended in Iran while travelling 15 years previously.
But he said the Class A drug ‘had no effect’ on him ‘because I was walking 25-30 miles a day’.
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