BIG STORY
As the political unrest at the top of the Conservative party continues to regurgitate on a daily basis, and the rankand-file Parliamentary party are clearly unhappy with the skipper, spare a thought for Sir Graham Brady, chair of the 1922 Committee. He has had to arbitrate over in-house fighting, a far-fromcomprehensive support for the leader, and two votes of no-confidence in the Prime Minister. Given that that has only ever happened in history once before, then his role as ‘teacher’ of the governmental Bash Street Kids offers up some sympathy from outside. By Alan Wares
THE BRADY BUNCH Graham Stuart Brady was born on May 20th 1967 in Salford, Lancashire (now Greater Manchester). He graduated from Durham University, having read Law, in 1989. While there, he served as Chairman of the Durham University Conservative Association for a year. After eight years working in the private sector, Brady was elected Conservative MP for Altrincham and Sale West in 1997, at the age of 29. This was Labour’s landslide election victory, and although this constituency is one of the safest Conservative seats in the country, Brady’s majority was just over 1,500. In the six subsequent General Elections, he has comfortably held on to his seat. From 1999 to 2003, Brady served on the Employment and Education Select Committee, under the leadership of both William Hague and Michael Howard. He was also made Opposition spokesperson on that subject.
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