The power struggle for control of the Conservative 1922 Committee

Sir Graham Brady, chair of the influential committee for more than a decade, faces a challenge, writes John Rentoul

Sir Graham Brady (PA)

Sir Graham Brady has been the spokesperson for Conservative backbench MPs since 2010, but later this month will face a rare challenge for his position from Robert Goodwill, a former minister. The mystique of the 1922 Committee gives its chair considerable authority in Westminster.

Given its name, the committee was naturally not founded in 1922. It was founded in 1923 by Tory MPs elected the year before, and it has always been associated with the revolt of the backbenches in 1922 that brought down David Lloyd George and installed a Tory prime minister. The prestige of its chair is maintained in the modern Tory party, partly by his role as the umpire of leadership elections.

Sir Graham is the party’s keeper of secrets: he is the recipient of letters from Tory MPs who want a vote of confidence in their leader. As soon as he has letters from 55 MPs (15 per cent of the total), he is required to hold a vote. That is what happened to Theresa May in December 2018, but she survived and eventually resigned voluntarily six months later.

Sir Graham has used his influence over the past 15 months to argue against lockdowns and to insist that the government stick to the 21 June timetable for lifting restrictions. Thus, like many of his predecessors, he has exploited his independent power base to make life difficult for the prime minister.

David Cameron realised that this might happen, and so when he became prime minister he launched an early strike at the power of what most Tory MPs simply call “The ’22”. He tried to widen its membership to include ministers, which would have neutered its ability to criticise the government. Tory backbenchers, even those newly and gratefully elected in 2010, were having none of it.

Much the same fate will befall Goodwill’s assault on the post of chair, I suspect, if he is seen simply as Boris Johnson’s candidate. Goodwill has criticised Sir Graham indirectly by telling The Times: “In my view the 1922 Committee is an integral part of the Conservative Party and should not be allowed to become some sort of opposition party within a party.”

I don’t think that Goodwill’s challenge is primarily an attempt by the prime minister to weaken a rival centre of power in the parliamentary Tory party – there are some MPs who have been irritated by Sir Graham using his position as a platform for anti-lockdown views that probably represent a minority on the back benches.

But if Goodwill’s candidacy is seen as a front for No 10 in trying to muzzle Tory MPs, then it is likely to fail.

Yours,

John Rentoul

Chief political commentator