Rory Stewart for Prime Minister

If only David's brother had supported the vote for proportional representation in 2011 when he was party leader.
PR would make it a lot easier to start a new center ground party as well as ensuring that the Tories wouldn't get 60% of the seats with 30% of the vote.

Maybe he’s along the same lines as David Miliband who could’ve been good but has hot footed it out of politics to a better deal

He’s not remotely interested in being a politician again - said it was v bad for his mental health

If he’s not really Tory or Labour then it’s a tough gig

Ie the post where he’d vote according to the whip or lose his job

It’s great he’s so liked but he’s got to convert it

Tbf I wasn’t really interested in the Cons back then and didn’t pay much attention to him, although I like his speaking voice on R4. He really sounds like another presenter - maybe the ‘in our time’ one not sure

And can you imagine, Tory party members preferred Boris Johnson over him!

The problem with Rory Stewart is that he wasn't prepared to lie to the voters, he told uncomfortable truths and unfortunately the voters prefer comfortable lies.

He's pretty much politically homeless though isn't he? The Tory party are now UKIP not even UKIP lite. I suspect there is an argument for a new moderate centre right party. For all those middle England Tory voters who don't want to be swimming in sewage, their countryside decimated and their money going to the uber rich. Truss and Kwarteng and their mad budget might help that along.

He explained the voting record protocol in one of his podcasts recently. To vote against the whip you literally have to be prepared to lose your job. George Osborne threatened him with never ever being promoted if he went 'through the wrong door' whilst voting. It seems like utter blackmail. He is very honest about his feelings regarding Boris Johnson and vowed he would never serve under him but boy, he's got some funny stories about him - and about working under Liz Truss.

I'm absolutely loving The Rest Is Politics podcast he's doing with Alastair Campbell. I've learned more and laughed more about politics and history from them than anything else. A great (politically opposite) combo. Rory is so well travelled and a huge asset in International affairs. He speaks 11 languages and is so, impeccably polite, and almost goofy at times. Alastair takes the piss out of him but it's clear they have a real affection and respect for one another. He seems so honest, is brave having fought for his country, is hugely intelligent and has real compassion. Hope he comes back into politics and I'd vote for whichever party he stood for.

I've been listening to the podcast with him and Alistair Campbell and think he has a lot of integrity and makes up his own mind about things. I'm sure he's said he is no longer a member of the Tory Party, but has also said he wouldn't become an MP again. He totally despises Boris Johnson and the current shower of shit that are the current government.

He’s been waxing lyrical about Australia’s Teal independents on the podcast and I suspect been quite heartened by their success, albeit they would have never succeeded in a first past the post system in the UK.

The Lib Dems are meant to fill that space and have been slowly encroaching - I’d rather see them work together.

Does anyone listen to his podcast it's usually in top 5 charts.

That’s an interesting read @YorkshireTeaCup

@yorkshireteacup god I wish they would. Surely there are loads of people out there looking for a sensible centrist option?

Your not you’re😖😖😖

@MissBattleaxe

yes, I think that is what will appeal to many - that he refused to work with BJ and that he has been quite contemptuous of his abilities.

I see a new gang on the block. The A team. Rory as Leader and a mix of the best from the old left, and right.

Come on, Rory. I bet you’re people are reading this. Make it so🙂

@Nolongerteaching Politico reported a few weeks ago that some sensible middle ground types were getting together for a conference on reclaiming the middle ground but IT WAS DEFINITELY NOT A NEW PARTY 🤔🤣. Rory Stewart's name was in there, along with Tony Blair, David Gauke, Luciana Berger, Ruth Davidson and a few others.

If anyone is interested: www.politico.eu/article/tony-blairs-new-centrist-program-just-dont-call-it-a-party/

He's a Tory with integrity and those are as rare as hen's teeth. I'm no Tory but he's had the guts to speak out while other Tories keep their heads down and ride the gravy train.

I said on a thread the other day that I think he is possibly too intelligent and open minded to really fit with party politics as they currently exist. However, as a lifelong, dyed in the wool socialist, I'd vote for him, because I do believe him to be intelligent and open minded (and seems less likely to offer his Granny as a human sacrifice for votes than most)

He also appears to have a genuine sense of humour; he claimed on Twitter that BJ had offered him a job as Downing Street Director of Communications. It took a while to sink in that it was 1st April

Wonder if Justine could invite him for a webchat?

He's ok, for a tory

I misread it and thought it was Rod Stewart.

That appealed to me.

I would love Rory Stewart to be PM but the cabinet would have to comprise the best of the rest I.e. the shining lights in all the other parties. Under the current system this is very unlikely to happen so, with the ghastly incumbents we already have, I feel we are doomed😕

Me too @EveSix

i don’t think we are alone either.

I heard him say something like this on LBC a few weeks ago.
I'd absolutely l o v e to see him back in UK politics.

Be back not beach🤣