Graham Brady

Graham Brady
MP

Graham Brady at the Gibraltar National Day political rally, 10 September 2007
Chairman of the 1922 Committee
Assumed office
26 May 2010
Leader David Cameron
Preceded by Sir Michael Spicer
Shadow Minister for Europe
In office
14 September 2004 – 29 May 2007
Leader Michael Howard
David Cameron
Succeeded by Mark Francois
Member of Parliament
for Altrincham and Sale West
Assumed office
2 May 1997
Preceded by Fergus Montgomery
Majority 13,290 (26.3%)
Personal details
Born (1967-05-20) 20 May 1967
Salford, Lancashire, England
Nationality British
Political party Conservative
Spouse(s) Victoria Lowther
Residence Altrincham, Greater Manchester
Alma mater St Aidan's College, Durham
Website Official website
parliament..graham-brady

Graham Stuart Brady (born 20 May 1967) is a British Conservative Party politician and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Altrincham and Sale West. He served as a shadow minister for Europe under four Conservative leaders before resigning in 2007 in protest at David Cameron's opposition to grammar schools. He succeeded Sir Michael Spicer as chairman of the 1922 Committee on 26 May 2010.[1][2] On the 1 December 2010, Brady was voted "Backbencher of the Year" by The Spectator at their annual parliamentary awards.

Early life

Brady was born on 20 May 1967 in Salford, England. He was educated at the Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, an all-boys grammar school in Altrincham. He studied law at St Aidan's College, University of Durham, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1989. While at Durham he was Chairman of the university's Conservative Association in 1987.

He was appointed a consultant in public relations with Shandwick plc in 1989. He joined the Centre for Policy Studies in 1990. He was elected Vice Chairman of the Berkshire East Conservative Association in 1992. He was appointed Director of public affairs at the Waterfront Partnership in 1992, where he remained until elected to Westminster in 1997. He is now Chairman of the 1922 Committee.

Member of Parliament

He was selected to contest the Altrincham and Sale West parliamentary constituency following the retirement of the veteran Conservative MP Fergus Montgomery. The 1997 General Election proved to be a close battle, but Graham Brady held on and was elected as the Conservative MP for Altrincham and Sale West with a majority of 1,505. He made his maiden speech on 2 June 1997. Brady's constituency is considered to be a Conservative safe seat,[3] having returned a Conservative MP for its entire history. He was relatively untouched by the expenses scandal but see employing Victoria Lowther, his wife, in Personal Life below.

Parliamentary career

Following his election, Graham Brady became a Member of the Education and Employment Select Committee. He became the Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to the Chairman of the Conservative Party, Michael Ancram in 1999. He was made an Opposition Whip by William Hague in 2000, and later in the year became an Opposition Spokesman on Education and Employment. After the 2001 General Election he was the Opposition Spokesman on Education and Skills under both Hague and Iain Duncan Smith. He became the PPS to the Leader of the Opposition, Michael Howard in 2003, and an Opposition Spokesman on Foreign Affairs and Shadow Europe Minister in 2004.

Commons Select Committees

Member: Education and Employment 1997–2001, Education and Employment (Employment Sub-Committee) 1997–2001, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister 2004–05, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Urban Affairs Sub-Committee) 2004–05, Treasury from 2007

Commons Backbench committees

Brady at Conservative Party conference 2011

Joint Secretary, Conservative Party Committee for Education and Employment 1997–2000

All-party groups (office-holding) Vice-chair Advertising Group from 2001; Secretary Cayman Islands Group from 2001; Treasurer Egypt Group from 2001; Vice-chair Montserrat Group from 2006; Secretary: Fluoridation Group from 2008, Infrastructure Group from 2008; Treasurer Thailand Group from 2009; Vice-chair Cannabis and Children Group from 2009

Party posts

Chair Durham University Conservative Association 1987–88; National Union Executive Committee 1988; Chair Northern Area Conservative Collegiate Forum 1987–89; Vice-chair East Berkshire Conservative Association 1993–95; Member Executive 1922 Committee 1998–2000, from 2007

Current posts

Vice-chair All-Party Advertising Group from 2001; Secretary All-Party Cayman Islands Group from 2001; Treasurer All-Party Egypt Group from 2001; Vice-chair All-Party Montserrat Group from 2006; Member Select Committee on Treasury from 2007; Chairman 1922 Committee from 2010; Secretary All-Party: Fluoridation Group from 2008, Infrastructure Group from 2008; Treasurer All-Party Thailand Group from 2009; Vice-chair All-Party Cannabis and Children Group from 2009

Resignation

On 29 May 2007, Brady resigned his post as Shadow Minister for Europe in protest at Conservative leader David Cameron's opposition to Grammar Schools. He told the BBC that he was "Faced with a choice between a front bench position that I have loved and doing what I believe to be right for my constituents and for the many hundreds of thousands of families who are ill-served by state education in this country, there is in conscience only one option open to me," And arguing that "Grammar schools in selective areas are exactly the motor that does drive social mobility more effectively than comprehensive areas."[4] Brady's own constituency has retained a selective rather than comprehensive education system.

Personal life

Graham Brady married Victoria Lowther in 1992, whom he met at Durham, and he has a daughter and a son. Graham Brady was reported to be among those MPs who paid the highest amount to family members of between £40,000 and £45,000. He employs his wife Victoria as senior parliamentary assistant.[5] He was the youngest Conservative elected in 1997 and currently resides in Altrincham.

References

  1. ↑ Forsyth, James (19 December 2009). "What Cameron really needs to think about over Christmas is why he wants to be PM". The Spectator. p. 11. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
  2. ↑ Elliott, Francis (30 December 2009). "Tories plan to ditch John Bercow as Speaker immediately after election". The Times. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
  3. ↑ Abrams, Fran (23 April 1997). "Election '97: Parties scramble to claim the mantle of youth". The Independent. Retrieved 2009-09-03.
  4. ↑ Tory quits post over grammars row
  5. ↑ http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/despite-the-expenses-scandal-136-mps-still-employ-family-members-2350952.html The Independent, "Despite the expenses scandal, 136 MPs still employ family members" 8 September 2011

External links

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Fergus Montgomery
(for Altrincham and Sale)		 Member of Parliament for Altrincham and Sale West
1997–present 		Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by
Sir Michael Spicer		 Chairman of the 1922 Committee
2010–present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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