Conservative leadership hopeful Rory Stewart in November claimed 80 percent of the British public backed the Brexit withdrawal agreement the British Government had secured in negotiations with the European Union. BBC Radio 5 presenter Emma Barnett challenged him to provide the sources for his claims, forcing Mr Stewart to quickly apologise after admitting he had made up the figure. Meeting again seven months later to discuss his campaign to succeed Theresa May at Number 10, Ms Barnett questioned Mr Stewart on why he felt the need to "lie". She said: "You are now standing to be Prime Minister having done that. Why did you lie? Why did you make something up?" Related articles Brexit Party activists ENCIRCLE Rory Stewart in Peterborough debate Tory leadership hopeful Rory Stewart vows to RULE OUT no deal Ms Barnett conceded Mr Stewart had issued the "quickest apology I have ever had from a minister". In response, Mr Stewart blamed the pressure he had been under at the time and claimed the "very painful experience" had helped him change his "entire approach in politics." The International Development Secretary said: "I learnt a lot of things for that. "That was straight after the deal was announced and I believed strongly that the majority of the British people supported that deal and I turned out to be completely wrong. LISTEN HERE: Latest Brexit news from the Express.co.uk Final Countdown podcast Brexit news: Stewart claimed he had learned from the "very painful experience" (Image: BBC) "It’s been a very painful experience for me. The reason I believed it is I believed people who supported no deal or a second referendum were a fringe – maybe 10 percent on either side. "The second thing I learned from this is that, under pressure – and I was giving 14, 15, 20 interviews that day – you can trip up." Mr Stewart added: "You have to be very careful. The reason this has been important for me is that this has changed my entire approach in politics." The Tory leadership contestant also warned claims from fellow candidates to pressure Brussels into giving Britain a new and improved Brexit deal are "misleading themselves and others." He continued: "Anyone who knows anything about Europe can assure you there is not the slightest hope of getting a new deal through Europe by October 31. Related articles McVey pledges to END Parliament SHENANIGANS to deliver Brexit Varoufakis says EMBRACE no deal Brexit or EU will ‘send UK PACKING' Brexit news: Steward said opponents pledging to negotiate a new deal are "misleading themselves" (Image: ITV) "Not a hope partly because Europe itself is in transition. They have had elections, they’re appointing a new Commission, they don’t even have a negotiator in place. "Any other leadership candidate who is pretending they are going to Brussels and get a different deal doesn’t understand Brussels, hasn’t been following the news, doesn’t understand what is happening in Europe at the moment and doesn’t understand the European position is very clear. "Anyone offering that, is offering one thing only – try to get no deal in October because there is no other deal coming." Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson, who is also running to become the next Prime Minister, has pledged to ensure Britain quits the bloc by the October deadline "with or without a deal. The original 13 Tory candidates decreased to 11 after DExEU under-secretary James Cleverly and North West Hamshire MP Kit Malthouse withdrew their candidacy earlier this week. The Conservative Party on Tuesday met to agree changes to the internal rules regulating the selection process for the new leader and announced the new Prime Minister will be in place by July 22. All rights reserved for this news site express.co.uk and under his responsibility