Westminster Insider A boozy lunch with Sir Graham Brady
Oct 4, 2024
In a lively lunch with Jack Blanchard, Sir Graham Brady, the former chairman of the 1922 Committee, shares juicy stories from his 14 years in power. He recounts the fiery reactions of David Cameron, Theresa May's feelings of betrayal, and Boris Johnson's cunning antics. Liz Truss' final moments before resigning are especially memorable. Brady also sheds light on the secretive letters of no confidence and their mysterious influence in the Tory party, revealing a chaotic yet fascinating side of British politics.
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1922 Committee Is Parliamentary Power Broker
- The 1922 Committee is essentially the Parliamentary Conservative Party representing backbench MPs.
- It manages confidence votes and runs leadership elections as part of party self-discipline.
Diaries Turned Into A Memoir
- Sir Graham kept diaries of significant events and later used them to write his memoir, Kingmaker.
- He recorded private moments and reactions during his 14 years as 1922 chairman to preserve history.
Cameron’s Relaxed Downing Street Chats
- David Cameron met Sir Graham informally, often with jacket off and feet up, making conversations relaxed.
- Meetings were typically short, about 15–20 minutes, to raise MP concerns and policy worries.