Major blamed for 1922 putsch

I first heard the suggestion last week and it's now been repeated to me three times over the bank holiday weekend - by different people...

Ex-PM Sir John Major is being blamed for advising David Cameron to neuter the 1922 backbench committee. Two weeks ago Mr Cameron attempted to end the committee's independence but was forced to retreat in the face of universal anger from MPs and "unusual suspects" within the conservative commentariat.  Yesterday, James Forsyth reported a more collegiate Cameron was emerging.

Major certainly had an unhappy relationship with the '22 when he was Prime Minister and he and Cameron are certainly very close. The former PM was used by Cameron to argue for coalition government within hours of the General Election result. Sir John visited Mr Cameron in Downing Street last week.

Tim Montgomerie