The International Development Secretary is considered an underdog in the race, but his odds have recently been slashed to 12/1 on Betfair, second only to Boris Johnson. In contrast to the former Foreign Secretary, who has insisted he will take the UK out of the EU with or without a deal, Mr Stewart has emphasised that no deal would be “catastrophic”. While he seems to have won the hearts of many on social media, Mr Stewart ranks poorly among Tory members, who will have the final say.
Before he became MP for Penrith and The Border, Mr Stewart was Executive Chairman of a non-profit NGO in Afghanistan.
This is where his surprise connection to the Prince of Wales comes from.
The NGO, called Turquoise Mountain, was founded by the prince in 2006 with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
Charles then asked Mr Stewart to run the organisation, according to the Conservative’s personal website.
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Prince Charles and Rory Stewart (Image: GETTY)
Prince Charles and Rory Stewart at the art production of Turquoise
