Altrincham and Sale West MP Graham Brady at the centre of political history

The Altrincham and Sale West MP Graham Brady has found himself at the centre of the historic and controversial decision to name a new leader of the Conservative Party and therefore a new Prime Minister.  In his role as the Chairman of the 1922 committee, he is central to the process.

The naming of a new leader and PM was due to be announced in nine weeks time so Tory party members countrywide could be consulted.  But this morning Andrea Leadsom withdrew from the contest after she allegedly said should would make a better PM because she had had children, unlike her competitor Teresa May who had had none.

Since the interview in The Times last week she has continually denied having said it, but such was the backlash she decided to apologise yesterday and then withdraw today.

That left Mrs May as the only contender and the party must now decide whether she should be announced as leader, and that will only happen after Mr Brady’s discussions.

He explained that he must now consult the Party Board who will have the final say.

1922 Committee chair says Conservative party board must formally confirm Theresa May is the new Conservative leader https://t.co/FsnoL9OpHm

— SkyNews (@SkyNews) July 11, 2016

The 1922 Committee, also known as “the 22”, is a committee of all backbench Conservative MPs that meets weekly when the Commons is sitting.  Its chair, usually a senior MP, is elected by committee members and has considerable influence within the Parliamentary Party.

The 1922 Committee takes its name from a meeting of Conservative MPs in October 1922 which led to the end of the party’s coalition government with the Liberals.