1922 Committee

The 1922 Committee, formally known as the Conservative Private Members' Committee,^[2] or sometimes simply the 22,^[3] is the parliamentary group of the Conservative Party in the British House of Commons. The committee, consisting of all Conservative backbench Members of Parliament (MPs), meets weekly while Parliament is in session and provides a way for backbenchers to co-ordinate and discuss their views independently of frontbenchers. Its executive membership and officers are by consensus limited to backbench MPs; however, since 2010, frontbench Conservative MPs have an open invitation to attend meetings.

The committee can also play an important role in choosing the party leader. The group was formed in 1923^[4] (by MPs who were elected in 1922), but became important after 1940. The committee, collectively, represents the views of the Conservative Party parliamentary rank and file to the party leader, who is usually also the Prime Minister or leader of the Opposition. Whips are present but their role is limited to announcing future business and reporting questions and complaints to the chief whip. Due to the number of members, the group traditionally meets in Committee Room 14, the largest committee room in the Houses of Parliament.^[5]