Rory Stewart called for a mob of 300,000 supporters to form a Tory version of Momentum and seize control of the Conservative Party.

Mr Stewart, who yesterday was booted out of the running to become the next PM, urged supporters to thwart the seeming hardline Brexiteer majority within the ranks as Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt prepare to face off for the keys to Number 10.

The race’s dark horse addressed hundreds at a ‘Thank You Rally’ in central London, telling the crowd they could help make the Conservatives the ‘party of the centre ground’.

He said: ‘The way that you will do that is by joining. The way that you will do that is by getting 300,000 members in to that party and making it again the party of the centre ground.

‘An invitation to join a movement, an invitation also for some of you to do what you will be reluctant to do, which is re-engage with politics directly.’

His call echoes the formation of the hard-left Momentum group set up to support Jeremy Corbyn when he took the reins of the Labour Party in 2015.

Mr Stewart declined to publicly throw his weight behind either of the two remaining candidates, instead declaring he would cast his vote in the secret ballot.

He tweeted: ‘I will not be declaring for anyone today – but I will be voting.’

Johnson topped the list once again following the latest vote this evening after hoovering up more than half of the 313 available by securing the backing of 160 Tory MPs.

Foreign Secretary Mr Hunt usurped Michael Gove in second place with 77 votes – just two more than the Environment Secretary’s 75.

Clutching a pint, the International Development Secretary could be seen mingling and chatting with those in attendance, the Daily Mail reported.

Mr Stewart organised tonight’s rally on London’s Southbank at the same venue as where he launched his campaign to say thank you to his supporters.

In a thank you video posted on Twitter Mr Stewart said he was ‘really, really grateful’ for the backing he had received throughout the bid, adding: ‘I would love to keep the conversation going.

‘I have been so buoyed up and energised. I am not disappointed by this result because I think we are uncovering something extraordinary in this country and in British politics.

‘And Rory walks on.’

Party members will now choose between the remaining two contenders to succeed Theresa May with the winner announced in the week beginning July 22.

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