Rory Stewart forced to deny being an ex-MI6 spy as Tory leadership contest takes bizarre turn

The Daily Telegraph has been mocked online after its front page story raised questions over whether Rory Stewart, a runner in the Conservative leadership race, was a spy for MI6.

On Tuesday, the right-wing newspaper, which pays Boris Johnson a reported £275,000 a year for a weekly column, ran the front page splash:

Mystery of Stewart's past links with MI6.

The front page comes despite the fact that the Official Secrets Act protects the operations of Britain's security services, reports the Huffington Post. In the article, it suggested that Stewart was recruited as a '007-style' agent while a student at Oxford University, and said it got the tip-off from an 'unnamed Whitehall source', reports the Huffington Post.

However, the Conservative MP for Penrith and the Border denied all the claims in an interview with Radio 4 this morning. Speaking on the Today Show, he said:

No. And in fact, the law wouldn’t allow newspapers to reveal the identity of intelligence officers.

He also denied the claims in an interview with BBC Breakfast. Speaking to the reporter, he said:

Absolutely, I was not a spy. I am very, very proud to have served my country.

It goes without saying that it wasn't only Stewart who criticised the front page splash. Other social media users were quick to disagree, too.

Brian Cox said that it's representative of the fact we're in a 'sorry place'.

Others thought that maybe the Telegraph are now worried about the rise of Stewart.

The Morning Star *cough* Daily Telegraph.

So, the fact he's a bit James Bond rules him out, right?

MP for Tonbrige and Malling, Tom Tugendhat, criticised the Whitehall source.

So if Rory is like James Bond, does that make Boris like... Austin Powers!?

What an absolutely SHOCKING suggestion.

There is Instagram, but there is also REALITY.

HT Huff Post

More: Rory Stewart once gave an immensely detailed, long and impassioned speech to the Commons about hedgehogs

More: Jeremy Hunt calls for every older person to die 'with dignity and respect' in badly worded campaign tweet