Sir Graham Brady, MP for Altrincham & Sale.

[celeste]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-63332425

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He's the man whose visits to No 10 have spelled the end for the UK's most recent prime ministers.

When Sir Graham Brady was seen walking into Downing Street earlier, speculation hit a new high that Liz Truss's time as PM might be up.

As chairman of the influential 1922 Committee - a group of backbench Tory MPs - Sir Graham is in charge of gauging how unhappy Conservative MPs are. We've heard a lot from him this year when he was organising the last leadership election. Now, with another race about to begin, we can expect to see even more of him.

But who is Sir Graham?

Born in Salford in 1967, Sir Graham first became active in the Conservative Party aged just 16 when - as a grammar school pupil - he joined a campaign to save local grammar schools.

He went to Durham University where he studied law, and later had jobs at think tank the Centre for Policy Studies, in public relations and later as public affairs director at a law firm.

In 1997 - shortly before his 30th birthday - he was elected MP for Altrincham and Sale West in Greater Manchester, making him the youngest Conservative MP at the time. In his maiden speech, he outlined his passion once again for grammar schools.

He went on to serve as a party whip - the MPs who are in charge of party discipline, for example by making sure other MPs attend Parliament and vote along party lines. And his star rose as he served as a shadow education minister and parliamentary private secretary to then-Tory leader Michael Howard in 2003.

Brexiteer Sir Graham served as Europe minister under David Cameron but quit in 2007 over grammar schools - that issue again - after Mr Cameron opposed them.

It was in 2010 that he was elected chairman of the 1922 Committee, a role he's held unchallenged for the past 12 years, being what the Times describes as "a cautious, stolid, unhysterical figure". The group - known in Westminster as the "men in grey suits" - meets weekly.

Sir Graham - who is married with two grown-up children - was knighted in 2017.

"For a family that came from terraced houses in Salford... I think my [late] mother would have been thrilled so I wish she was here to see it, " he said at the time.

[celeste]

He could be a future prime minister but may regard it safer to be chairman of the 22 Committee.

[St Chads Lad]

He probably wields more power than the PM.

[celeste]

I've only read good things about him,  perhaps the next prime minister should take advice from him instead of people like Dominic Cummings.

[sofcookies]

Yep, As head of the 1922 committee he wields an enormous amount of power but manages to stay away from being in a public role.  Back Benchers like Brady are hugely important and he is well liked in his constituency. 

[celeste]

Noticed him in Alty.  talking to some women probably at the time of Brexit,  would have had a chat but couldn't wait around,  don't know if he has held a ministerial post.