Tory leadership hopeful Rory Stewart begs Tories to help him in the first round

RORY STEWART begged Tories to help him survive today’s first round of voting in the party leadership contest – admitting he may not make the cut.

The first ballot takes place this morning and any candidate failing to get at least 17 votes will be knocked out.

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Mr Stewart – who has earned rave reviews for his shock bid for No.10 – told The Sun he feared he was still “one or two votes short”.

And he urged Tories: “Give me a chance.

“I’m proving that young people can vote for Conservatives, that cities can vote for Conserative and we shouldn’t be afraid when people like Gary Lineker say that I could beat Jeremy Corbyn.”

Tory insiders believe rank leadership outsiders Esther McVey and Mark Harper will both be knocked out – and that ex-Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom could also go.

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One senior Tory said he believed Mr Stewart would survive into next week.

They said: “Rory’s been brilliant and he’s got to get a big job in the next Cabinet. He’s changed opinions. Esther’s reputation has got worse.”

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