Rory Stewart faces huge loss after betting 'maximum allowed' on Kamala Harris win

Rory Stewart faces being left out of pocket after claiming he placed a major bet on Kamala Harris to win the US election.

The former Tory Cabinet minister predicted on social media that the Democrat would "win comfortably".

He added that he had "bet the maximum I was allowed" on Ms Harris defeating Republican Donald Trump.

Asked by another user on X if he had gambled £100,000, he said: "UK and US sites didn't allow me to bet that amount - but I have bet the maximum I was allowed to bet - let's see."

Mr Stewart has been widely mocked over his prediction to his 600,000 followers that Ms Harris would be victorious.

The host of the Rest is Politics podcast said: "Kamala Harris will win comfortably, because Biden's admin has been solid, Trump's lost ground since 2016, the young Black male votes which Trump needs didn't turn out in 16, 18, 20, or 22, young women like Kamala and vote."

Mr Stewart, who previously ran for the Tory leadership and to be London Mayor, added that people should "ignore polls".

But breaking his silence earlier today, Mr Stewart admitted that he was "completely wrong".

The ex-Conservative MP said: "For the record - I was completely wrong about Kamala Harris. It is heartbreaking that Trump is now the President."

Speaking on his podcast with co-host Alastair Campbell, Mr Stewart added: "I got it totally wrong, I thought Kamala Harris would win and I believed she would win comfortably.

"I thought it would be over quite quickly, despite the polls showing 50-50.

"Why? I can repeat my arguments, they were technical arguments about young African-American voters and how they would turn out, her ground game, the money, the performance of Biden's administration.

"It's all turned out wrong, completely wrong. I don't think though that I was fundamentally wrong because I'm patronising towards people.

"I never felt that, I never felt that as a politician in Britain - I didn't feel I was patronising towards by Brexit-voting constituents.

"I think I was wrong because I am an optimist and I hate the idea of being right pessimistically."

He added: "My bet on Kamala Harris was a bet on the American people, it was a bet on liberal democracy, it was a bet against populism, it was a bet on hope."