Sir Graham Brady MP
Member of Parliament for Altrincham and Sale West
Graham Brady was born in Salford in 1967. He was educated at Altrincham Grammar School and Durham University where he studied law. Graham first became active in the Conservative party when aged 16 he joined a campaign to save the local grammar schools. Prior to entering Parliament in 1997 Graham was Public Affairs Director at the Waterfront Partnership. He had previously worked at the Centre for Policy Studies and Shandwick Plc.
At Graham’s election in 1997 he was the youngest Conservative MP. In Parliament he has been opposition spokesman on employment, served as a whip and as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Rt Hon Michael Ancram when he was Party Chairman. He went onto become Shadow Minister for Schools; PPS to Michael Howard when he became Leader of the Opposition and then Shadow Europe Minister. He continued in that role following David Cameron’s election as leader. Graham stepped down from the front bench on 29th May 2007.
In 2010 he was elected Chairman of the 1922 Committee which represents the interests of backbench Conservative MPs and has continued in that position unchallenged since that date. Graham was voted Backbencher of the Year by the Spectator magazine. Graham has been a member of the Treasury Select Committee and was a Governor of Manchester Metropolitan University from 2008-11. He is patron of the Counselling and Family Centre in Altrincham and a trustee of the Jubilee Centre in Bowdon. He is a keen supporter of Stockdales, a charity supporting children and adults with learning disabilities in Manchester.
He is married to Victoria with two grown-up children.
POLITICAL CAREER
Electoral History:
Member for Altrincham and Sale West 1997-2010, for Altrincham and Sale West (revised boundary) since 6 May 2010 general election
Parliamentary Career:
PPS to Michael Ancram as Conservative Party Chairman 1999-2000
Opposition Whip 2000
Opposition Spokesperson for:
- Employment 2000-01
- Schools 2001-03
PPS to Michael Howard as Leader of the Opposition 2003-04
Shadow Minister for Europe 2004-07
Select Committees:
- 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 2007-10
- Reform of the House of Commons 2009-10
- Chairmen’s Panel/Panel of Chairs 2009-present
Backbench Committees:
Joint Secretary, Conservative Party Committee for Education and Employment 1997-2000
1922 Committee:
- Member, executive 1998-2000, 2007-10
- Chairman 2010-present
Councils and Public Bodies:
Independent governor and member, audit committee, Manchester Metropolitan University 2008-11
Party Roles:
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
Council Member, AECR 2015-present
Political Interests:
Education, health, Europe
Countries of Interest:
Commonwealth, Far East, British Overseas Territories