MailOnline body language expert Judi James reveals who really has the power in ...

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Rory Stewart was the only candidate to threaten Boris Johnson's chance of becoming Prime Minister in last night's Tory leadership debates, a body language analyst has said.  

The remaining five candidates for the Tory leadership faced off in a BBC debate on Tuesday evening and clashed on issues such as Brexit and taxation.

Initial reaction to the debate was there were no clear winners, with viewers critical of the format of contest, as well as the candidates ignoring questions and interrupting each other.

But Judi James says Stewart was the one making the power play for the top job as he sneered his way through the debate.

She told MailOnline that it was outsider and International Development Secretary Rory Stewart - who campaigned to remain in the EU - that took the lead. 

'As the other would-be next PMs sat legs-akimbo on their Westlife tribute-act stools it was Rory Stewart positioning himself as the daring outsider with his tie off and his feet placed firmly on the ground,' she said. 'He rocked, he sneered with a fully raised upper lip, and he laughed and shook his head as the others debated. 

'At times his head even dropped forward as though he was in mourning for politics in general.'

Ms James says that only Sajid Javid presented a challenge to Stewart, as Michael Gove and Jeremy Hunt looked on at the 'silent threat'. 

'His very different body language rituals made him look like a silent threat aimed at unnerving the others but it was a more confident Javid who appeared to play him at his own game, throwing a direct question at him towards the end that had Rory fast-blinking and even verbally swerving for a change,' she said.