The latest headlines in your inbox
Rory Stewart has said he will be standing down at the next general election and has resigned from the Conservative Party.
Announcing the news “with great sadness” on Friday, the former Tory leadership candidate said it had been a pleasure to represent his constituents for the past decade.
He tweeted: “It’s been a great privilege to serve Penrith and The Border for the last ten years, so it is with sadness that I am announcing that I will be standing down at the next election, and that I have also resigned from the Conservative Party.”
Mr Stewart served as international development secretary until his resignation from Government in July, shortly before Mr Johnson took office and undertook his drastic Cabinet reshuffle.
The firm opponent of a no-deal Brexit was among the rebels who voted to take control of the Commons timetable in order to pass legislation aimed at blocking a sudden exit from the EU.
The PM retaliated by ordering the controversial cull, which saw two former chancellors stripped of the Conservative whip.
Several MPs responded to Mr Stewart’s announcement on Friday, with his former Cabinet colleague Amber Rudd calling the former international development secretary an “outstanding MP and Minister.”
She said: “What a loss to politics. An outstanding MP and Minister. One of the strongest speakers in Parliament.
“Principled, patient, thoughtful. I feel certain he’ll be back.”
Ruth Davidson and Nick Boles, who both resigned from the Tory party earlier this year, also said they were sorry to see Mr Stewart go.
Ms Davidson, the former Scottish Conservatives leader, wrote: “Very sorry to see. Our party should have room for talented, experienced and committed people from across the Conservative spectrum.”
Former Tory MP Nick Boles tweeted: “Last rites are being read for moderate One Nation conservatism. Rory Stewart joins Ruth Davidson, Sam Gyimah, Amber Rudd and many others.
“A sad day for British politics but a personal liberation for Rory who will go on to greater things, no doubt.”
Mr Stewart was elected MP for Penrith and the Border in 2010 and joined the Government five years later.
He was one of 21 Tory rebels who had the party whip removed after rebelling against Mr Johnson to block no-deal.
Mr Stewart revealed last month he was expelled from the party “by text” and called the decision “astonishing”, saying it was something “you associate with other countries” rather than Britain.
He saw his leadership bid against Mr Johnson come to an end after a BBC debate, where he shied away from populist pledges and a full-scale clash with the now-Prime Minister.
The 46-year-old was eliminated from the leadership race in the third round of voting and tweeted to say he had been “moved and inspired” by the support he had received during the contest.
