Rory Stewart has denied claims that he previously spied for MI6 - but acknowledged he could not admit to being a spy even if he had been. The Tory leadership hopeful was this morning asked about revelations in The Telegraph that he was recruited by the Secret Intelligence Service after graduating from Oxford University. This newspaper reported claims from a Whitehall security source, who said that Mr Stewart had spent seven years as a spy before entering Parliament. Asked about the claims on Tuesday, the International Development Secretary told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that he had “served my country” but if asked whether he was a former intelligence operative, “I would say no”. Mr Stewart,... To continue reading this article Start your free trial of Premium Access all Premium articles Subscriber-only events Cancel any time Free for 30 days then only £2 per week Try Premium Access one Premium article per week … [Read more...] about Rory Stewart denies being a spy for MI6
Telegraph
Thatcher: A Very British Revolution, episode 5, review
5 After being forced to acknowledge Margaret Thatcher’s authority in dealing with crises such as the Falklands War in the early episodes of Thatcher: A Very British Revolution (BBC Two), Michael Heseltine clearly relished the finale of this excellent series as he had no reason to hold back as – playing the star witness here – he recalled every twist and turn of her downfall. Hezza scoffed at her “much romanticised” image that concealed what a “calculating politician she was”, and declared that the country would be much more “different” if he had managed to become Prime Minister. The only contrite note he struck came when he confessed that he might have wasted his time storming out of the cabinet... To continue reading this article Start your free trial of Premium Access all Premium articles Subscriber-only events Cancel any time Free for 30 days then only £2 per week Try … [Read more...] about Thatcher: A Very British Revolution, episode 5, review
The contest Conservatives need is Boris v Rory
Tim Stanley Follow 17 June 2019 • 8:00pm I’ve finally put my finger on why I don’t want Rory Stewart to be PM. But before we get to that, let me say that the final round contest the Tories need to have is Boris v Rory. The Conservative Party has no idea what it’s about at the moment and these two offer the sharpest contrast, not just over Brexit but in their character and philosophy. On Brexit, both men promise the impossible. Boris says he can renegotiate the Withdrawal Agreement before October 31 or else walk away, but time has run out for renegotiation and Parliament will block a no-deal Brexit. Douze points then to Rory and his plan to plough on with the Withdrawal Agreement? Well, no – because while there isn’t a Commons majority... To continue reading this article Start your free trial of Premium Access all Premium articles Subscriber-only events Cancel any time Free for 30 days then only £2 … [Read more...] about The contest Conservatives need is Boris v Rory
Rory Stewart may seem eccentric. But his Tory rivals are weirder
Michael Deacon Parliamentary Sketchwriter Follow 17 June 2019 • 6:42pm Boris Johnson has agreed to appear on tomorrow night’s BBC debate, which is good to hear, because during the Tory leadership contest to date he’s been uncharacteristically shy and retiring. Last night he didn’t take part in the Channel 4 debate, and today he didn’t take part in a media-hosted hustings in Parliament. His advisers may be telling him it’s safer to keep his head down, but in politics caution can be risky. It gives your opponents a new stick to beat you with. “As far as I can see,” said Rory Stewart at today’s hustings, “Boris doesn’t have a plan. I say ‘as far as I can see’, because he doesn’t talk to me, he doesn’t to you, he doesn’t talk to the public…” The five candidates who... To continue reading this article Start your free trial of Premium Access all … [Read more...] about Rory Stewart may seem eccentric. But his Tory rivals are weirder
Live: Britain’s Next PM
3 Boris Johnson shied away from Sunday's Channel 4 debate as he feared that making his case alongside five other Tory leadership rivals to be Prime Minister would end up being "slightly cacophonous" and dominated by "blue on blue" attacks. Many viewers will find it hard not to conclude he was proven right. While Mr Johnson rested ahead of Tuesday's debate - or perhaps finished off on his column for Monday's Telegraph - his five rivals used their chance in the studio to tear into each other over Brexit. Dominic Raab posed as the toughest potential Prime Minister, chiding the "too many people" who failed to "keep our promises" by delaying, accusing rivals like Michael Gove of being ready to "buckle"... To continue reading this article Start your free trial of Premium Access all Premium articles Subscriber-only events Cancel any time Free for 30 days then only £2 per week Try Premium Access one Premium article per week Register for … [Read more...] about Live: Britain’s Next PM