Rory Stewart vs Boris Johnson: Did they meet each other at Oxford in the Bullingdon Club?

Rory Stewart today launched his campaign for Conservative Party leader at a rally on Southbank in London. The 46-year-old has spoken out against fellow Tory leader candidate Boris Johnson, telling the Independent Mr Johnson was trying to “out-Farage Farage”. Mr Stewart added Mr Johnson had an “undeliverable” plan to renegotiate the Brexit deal. 

Mr Stewart also shot down Mr Johnson’s “swaggering machismo” over Brexit, which he said could risk contaminating the UK’s relationship with Europe.

He is the International Development Secretary and topped a poll alongside Mr Johnson for who would make a good Prime Minister.

The Opinium poll saw both he and the ex-foreign secretary ranked at 4.5 out of 10 on whether they would make a good PM. 

They were followed by Dominic Raab, who scored 4.4, Sajid Javid on 4.3 and Jeremy Hunt and Andrea Leadsom on 4.2.

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Mark Harper scored 4.1 and Michael Gove, Matt Hancock and Esther McVey each scored four out of 10.

The survey was taken between June 6 and 7 of 2,009 British adults. 

Mr Johnson, 54, and Mr Stewart have similar backgrounds, having both been educated at Eton and Oxford. 

However, they were decades apart, with Mr Johnson attending Eton from 1977, and Mr Stewart estimated to have studied at the prestigious college from 1991 onwards. 

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They also both attended the notorious Bullingdon Club, although Mr Stewart only went to one meeting. 

The dates mean that Mr Stewart and Mr Johnson will not have been in education at Oxford or Eton at the same time. 

What is the Bullingdon Club? 

The Bullingdon Club is an exclusive all-male club for Oxford University undergraduates. However, it is not officially recognised by the University. 

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The club is known for its wealthy members, extravagant banquets and often boisterous behaviour. 

It was initially a sports club, dedicated to both cricket and horse riding, however, dinners eventually became the main focus. 

Several members of the club have gone on to be involved in British politics, including former Prime Minister David Cameron and former Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne.

Mr Johnson is currently the favourite in the Tory leadership race, with odds of 4/7 that he will become the next Prime Minister according to Bookmakers Coral. 

Mr Stewart, on the other hand, has odds of 25-1, tied with Sajid Javid and Dominic Raab. 

Ahead of Mr Stewart are Michael Gove at 16-1, Andrea Leadsom - 10-1 and second-favourite Jeremy Hunt at 9-2.
  
The first ballot of MPs will take place on Thursday, June 13, with successive ballots to follow - knocking the leadership race from 10 to two candidates. 

A postal ballot of general members of the Tory party will then choose the winner, which will be announced on July 22.