London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

What could 1922 Committee elections mean for Boris Johnson?

What could 1922 Committee elections mean for Boris Johnson?

Elections seen by many as proxy ballot on whether prime minister should face second no-confidence vote

One of the most important but understated elections in Westminster will take place within weeks, with the date still shrouded in secrecy but candidates already plotting their campaigns.

With positions on the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, which sets rules for the parliamentary party, up for grabs, this is how the contest works and how it could influence whether Boris Johnson will face another no-confidence vote.

How is the 1922 Committee set up?


There are six officers: the chair, Graham Brady, vice-chairs William Wragg and Nusrat Ghani, the treasurer, Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, and secretaries Bob Blackman and Gary Sambrook.

They hold the most senior positions and are supported by a further 12 members of the executive, only 10 of whom are currently in post due to two people having stepped down to become ministerial aides as only backbenchers can serve on the committee.

How will the elections work?


The date of the ballot for all positions will probably be announced next Wednesday. Candidates will need to be nominated by two colleagues.

When the election is held, it will take place over a very short period of time – as little as two hours.

Those eligible to vote are all Conservative backbenchers and may include those whose jobs rely on them supporting the government – party vice-chairs and private parliamentary secretaries – but do not sit on the frontbench or speak from the dispatch box.

The ballot paper will feature the list of all candidates and MPs will vote by placing an “X” in the box next to their name.

It is a first-past-the-post voting system, meaning the candidate with the highest vote for each officer position will be elected, along with the 12 who get the highest number of votes for joining the executive.

The result will be announced on the same day as the election.

Brady faced a challenger last time, but even government sources suggested it was extremely unlikely that No 10 would try to put up a candidate against him again.

Other positions were not contested at the last vote. But this time 20 candidates could put themselves forward in a sign of how significant the body’s role will be in shaping Johnson’s political future.

Sources on the committee said they thought everyone already on it would stand again, partly given that it is the group’s centenary next year and the current committee has been involved in helping to plan many of the events for it.

What could the result mean for the prime minister?


The ballot is being seen by many as a proxy vote on whether Johnson should face another no-confidence vote. Having won the last one, but with 41% of colleagues voting against him, the prime minister is now immune under party rules from facing a similar challenge for 12 months.

However, the 1922 Committee could change the rules to dramatically reduce that period. Some candidates are standing on a specific platform of doing so, while others will openly oppose the move.

In 2019, the committee was said to have voted on whether to allow another no-confidence vote to take place against Theresa May after she saw off such a challenge.

This time, if the committee tries to change the rules there will probably be outcry from MPs loyal to Johnson, who would argue that the entire parliamentary party should be consulted – not just backbenchers.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×