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What is the influential Tory 1922 Committee?

Often referred to as "the men in grey suits", the group has a pivotal role in deciding the fate of Conservative leaders.

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Image: The 1922 Committee is made up of all Tory MPs
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The political jostling at the top of the Conservative Party has cast light on a group known as the 1922 Committee.

Sky News explains what it is, what powers it has, where it got its name from and the last time it managed to topple a Tory leader.

:: What is the 1922 Committee?

The 1922 Committee comprises all backbench Conservative MPs.

It meets weekly when parliament is sitting, with the gatherings usually providing an indicator of backbench support for the leadership, direction of the party or major policies.

A Tory leader or other senior member of the party is invited to attend 1922 meetings on occasion.

:: What powers do the 1922 Committee have?

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Often referred to as "the men in grey suits", the 1922 Committee is led by an 18-member executive committee with a chair elected by committee members.

The current co-chairs are Dame Cheryl Gillan and Charles Walker, whose positions gives them great influence in the party and the responsibility of overseeing Tory leadership elections.

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Image: Dame Cheryl Gillan co-chairs the group

They have held the role since Sir Graham Brady stepped down in June in the run-up to the Tory leadership contest that saw Boris Johnson replace Theresa May.

If Tories want to force a vote of confidence in their party leader, they are required to submit a letter to the 1922 Committee co-chairs.

A total of 15% of Conservative MPs are required to write such letters to prompt a confidence vote, which currently means 48 dissatisfied MPs is the crucial number.

The co-chairs are responsible for keeping a tally of the number of letters submitted.

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Image: Charles Walker is the other co-chair

If a leader loses a subsequent no-confidence vote, Dame Cheryl and Mr Walker will then organise a series of secret ballots of MPs to whittle down possible leadership candidates to a final two.

These will then be put to the wider Conservative Party membership for a final choice.

:: Why is it called the 1922 Committee?

On 19 October 1922, a meeting of rebel Conservative MPs at the Carlton Club ended the party's coalition with the Liberals and brought down the government of David Lloyd George.

The resulting general election was won by the Tories, with the backbench committee taking its name from the year of those events.

:: When did the 1922 Committee last depose a Tory leader

Iain Duncan Smith was removed as Tory leader in October 2003 when he lost a confidence vote initiated by Conservative MPs.