1922 Chairman election brought forward a week

Senior Conservative backbenchers decided yesterday to advance the timetable for the election of a new Chairman.

The poll will take place on May 26 - a Wednesday, the day on which the '22 usually meets.  Nominations will open on Monday 24 and close on Tuesday 25.

The election was due to take place a week later, but yesterday's afternoon meeting resolved to bring the date forward - in order to ensure that backbench views are represented to the Leadership as soon as possible.

A senior source told ConservativeHome: "There was agreement to bring the election forward to the earliest possible practicable date.  It would have been hard to poll the week before - the date the Speaker's elected."

The two front-runners for the election are Richard Ottaway and Graham Brady, with Nicholas Soames also having announced his intention to stand. Earlier this week, I advised that the election should be brought forward here.

Paul Goodman