1922 Committee Appoints New Chair Ahead of Tory Leadership Race

The influential 1922 Committee, which organises and decides the rules of the Conservative Party leadership contest, has elected a new chairman, amid claims of a “bent” vote. Tory MPs elected the Harrow East MP, 68-year-old Bob Blackman, to lead the committee on Tuesday. The 1922 Committee, also known as “the 22”, is comprised of all Conservative backbenchers and meets weekly when the Commons is sitting. It organises ballots on changes in leadership and oversees votes of no confidence. Mr. Blackman won 61 of the 98 votes, beating his opponent Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, the MP for North Cotswolds, who secured 37 votes. Votes were cast in the Houses of Parliament between 5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., but some MPs have been reportedly told in an email they could vote until 6 p.m....