Rory Stewart is a writer. This follows almost ten years as an MP, during which time he served as Secretary of State for International Development, Prisons Minister, Minister for Africa, and Minister for the Environment. Rory resigned from the cabinet in July 2019 and thereafter from the Conservative Party. Before politics, Rory served in the UK Diplomatic Service, working overseas in Jakarta and in Montenegro. In 2002 he walked for 21 months across Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Nepal. In 2003 he was the coalition Deputy-Governor of two provinces of Southern Iraq. From 2005 to 2008 he was the Chair and Chief Executive of the Turquoise Mountain Foundation based in Kabul. He has written four books and presented three BBC television documentaries.