Croydon Tory MPs in running for powerful party posts (From Croydon Guardian)

Croydon Tory MPs in running for powerful party posts

2:10pm Wednesday 26th May 2010

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Croydon’s Conservative MPs could be about to become two of the most powerful members of the party’s backbenches.

Richard Ottaway, who has represented Croydon South since 1992, is one of two candidates battling to be named chairman of the party’s influential 1922 committee.

And Croydon Central’s Gavin Barwell is among 12 newly-elected MPs hoping to be voted on to the committee’s executive.

As well as keeping Conservative cabinets informed of the mood of the party’s rank and file MPs, the 1922 chairman oversees votes of confidence in the party leaders - which led to the dismissal of leader Iain Duncan Smith as recently as 2003.

Mr Ottaway has been widely tipped as David Cameron’s preferred candidate, but faces strong competition from former shadow cabinet rebel Graham Brady, who quit the front bench over the party’s policy on grammar schools.

The Prime Minister made waves within the party last week after calling a snap-vote on allowing ‘payroll’ Tories - the ministers and whips - full membership of the 1922.

Although the motion passed Mr Cameron suffered an 118-strong rebellion, and quickly moved to placate members by ruling ‘payrollers’ would be unable to vote on its chairmanship or stand for its offices.

The new chairman is expected to be named during a meeting of the committee at 5.30pm, with the executive likely to be revealed tomorrow morning.