Book talk | Lord Norton

Lord Norton, a leading expert on Parliament and constitutional affairs, will hold a talk about his new book titled "The 1922 Committee: Power Behind the Scenes."

Lord Norton has been described as "the United Kingdom's greatest living expert on Parliament" and "a world authority on constitutional issues." He is a Professor of Government and Director of the Centre for Legislative Studies at the University of Hull. He chairs the History of Parliament Trust and the Higher Education Commission, is President of the Study of Parliament Group and is Editor of 'The Journal of Legislative Studies'.

Lord Norton has published widely and is the author or editor of 35 books. The description of his latest book, about the Conservative Party's 1922 Committee, is below:

The Conservative Private Members (1922) Committee is an important but elusive force in British politics. Despite becoming almost a household name during the leadership crises of 2022, it remains little understood beyond the corridors of Westminster.

Established in 1923 by a group of Conservative MPs elected the year before, the Committee offers backbenchers an opportunity to discuss their views and coordinate independently of the frontbench. Over time it has become the kingmaker of the Conservative Party, overseeing leadership elections and confidence votes such as that faced by Boris Johnson over 'partygate'.

How did the Committee come together? How is it structured and how much power does it really wield? These are among the questions the book considers. Providing unprecedented insights into this long-standing institution, it is essential reading for anyone who cares about the integrity of our political system.

This is an online event hosted by the CDP.