Rory walks out – our 15 favourite reactions to Rory Stewart’s decision to leave the Tories
A few weeks after losing the Tory whip for voting to give control of the Commons timetable to MPs, former Conservative leadership candidate and avid walker, Rory Stewart, has left the party, which wasn’t a big shock. Here’s how he announced the news.
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.
— Rory Stewart (@RoryStewartUK) October 4, 2019
What was a little more of a surprise was his decision to stand as a mayoral candidate for London, as an Independent.
I am running as an Independent candidate for Mayor of London, and here’s why.
Please join me in my campaign: https://t.co/8y3xWpl9hY#Rory4London pic.twitter.com/jnaNy8IF0s
— Rory Stewart (@RoryStewartUK) October 4, 2019
Reactions have been varied, but we feel these examples cover the range rather well.
1.
The political space seems uniquely unwelcoming of thoughtfulness at the moment, whatever the party. Rory Stewart's resignation being a case in point.
— James O'Brien (@mrjamesob) October 4, 2019
2.
Live scenes as Rory Stewart leaves the Conservative Party: pic.twitter.com/VepWuYyKtg
— Have I Got News For You (@haveigotnews) October 4, 2019
3.
rory stewart is resigning to spend more time investigating how his soul became trapped in a haunted ventriloquist dummy in the first place
— Mollie Goodfellow (@hansmollman) October 4, 2019
4.
So. Farewell then, Rory Stewart. Doomed to wander the land as an ageless discourse-sprite after stealing a golf umbrella from a wizard’s Peugeot.
— Sarah Dempster (@Dempster2000) October 4, 2019
5.
Rory Stewart is the cat deserting the sinking ship while the rats stay onboard.
— Mr R Quimbly (@RogerQuimbly) October 4, 2019
6.
update pic.twitter.com/uOejivbHhT
— James Felton (@JimMFelton) October 4, 2019
7.
It says a lot about the current era of incompetent bastardry that the resignation of Rory Stewart – an affable if entirely unremarkable bog-standard posh Tory MP – is seen as the loss of a statesman of great gravitas.
— Nick Pettigrew (@Nick_Pettigrew) October 4, 2019
8.
Rory Stewart not leaving the Tories because of all the shit things they’ve done previously v Rory Stewart suddenly deciding he has principles pic.twitter.com/aHN3Axljto
— Sorcha Ní Nia (@Luiseach) October 4, 2019
9.
I think Rory Stewart had the idea that he'd try to be as open, engaged, transparent and honest he as could be. And then found there was no demand for such trivial concerns.
— Richard Littler (@richard_littler) October 4, 2019
10.
Former leadership candidate Rory Stewart to stand down at next general election and also resign his role as the moderate wing of the Tory party.
— Robin Flavell (@RobinFlavell) October 4, 2019
11.
The tragic thing for Rory Stewart is that his four months of fame has made him too notorious to go back to his previous job as a [REDACTED].
— David Whitley (@mrdavidwhitley) October 4, 2019
12.
Rory Stewart running for London Mayor feels very much like Boris has slept with the woman he wanted, so now he’s going to try and shag his ex.
— Unnamed Insider (@Unnamedinsider) October 4, 2019
13.
Basically the Rory Stewart bubble has been created by people who watch too many Richard Curtis films
— Owen Jones🌹 (@OwenJones84) October 4, 2019
14.
Rory Stewart’s whole vibe is “I have Tory beliefs, I have a Tory voting record and am a Tory but I’m VERY sorry about it.”
— Carl Pumpkinsella 🎃 (@TVsCarlKinsella) October 4, 2019
15.
God bless Rory Stewart and all who ride in him but what's he planning to do, walk round the North Circular holding his GQ award? Isn't that a Will Self book?
— Aditya Chakrabortty (@chakrabortty) October 4, 2019
Writer, actor, and Twitter essential, Alex Andreou put the move into perspective.
A party that chooses to lose Rory Stewart, Ken Clarke, Dominic Grieve, and Sam Gyimah in order to pacify Mark Francois, Desmond Swayne, Marcus Fysh, and Andrew Bridgen will find itself in a whole heap of trouble ultimately. It really becomes just a matter of "when", not "if". https://t.co/KbuXVB3dHz
— Alex Andreou (@sturdyAlex) October 4, 2019
Source: Twitter Image:
