New MPs stand for 1922 Committee
Chairman Graham Brady has been re-elected unopposed to head the 1922 Committee
Members of the fresh intake of Conservative MPs first elected in 2010 have put forward their names for election to the influential backbench 1922 Committee, it has been announced.
Chairman Graham Brady was re-elected unopposed to head the committee, which has traditionally provided a "safety valve" for backbenchers to express concerns about the direction taken by the leadership. Vice-chairmen Charles Walker and John Whittingdale and treasurer Brian Binley were also returned unopposed.
But a vote by Tory MPs on Wednesday will see members of the 301 Group of party "modernisers" attempt to oust veteran members who have ruffled feathers with their criticisms of David Cameron's leadership.
Kris Hopkins, who is one of the driving forces behind the 301 Group - named for the number of MPs the Tories need to secure an overall majority in the Commons in 2015 - has said that the election of new MPs could deliver "seismic" change to the tone of the committee.
The key election will be to the two posts of joint secretary, one of which has been vacated by prominent Cameron critic Mark Pritchard.
Long-serving MP for Christchurch Christopher Chope is seeking re-election as secretary, but faces a challenge from 301 Group members Charlie Elphicke and Karen Bradley - both regarded as leadership loyalists - as well as Enfield North MP Nick de Bois.
Some 26 nominations have been received for the committee's 12 executive member posts.
These include new MPs Guto Bebb, George Eustice, Graham Evans, George Hollingbery, Simon Kirby, Penny Mordaunt, Sheryll Murray and Priti Patel, who are understood to have the backing of the 301 Group.
Other members of the 2010 intake standing for election to the executive are Steve Baker, Andrew Bridgen, Chris Kelly, Karl McCartney, David Morris, David Nuttall, Martin Vickers and Heather Wheeler.
Incumbents seeking re-election include vocal right-wingers Peter Bone, Robert Halfon and Bernard Jenkin, as well as Julian Brazier and Andrew Turner. And the field of candidates is completed by John Baron, Adam Holloway, Stewart Jackson, Eleanor Laing and Julian Lewis.
