'Dirty tricks' claim as PM stages coup of Tory rebel group Vociferous critics of David Cameron were defeated last night in an acrimonious battle for control of an influential Conservative backbench committee with direct access to the Prime Minister. The contest for positions on the 1922 Committee of backbenchers had exposed growing fault-lines and tensions within the party following the badly-received Budget and the Tories' poor local election results. New MPs presenting themselves as modernisers emerged triumphant as they ousted leading Government critics, including Christopher Chope, Peter Bone and Philip Davies, from posts on the Committee. The elections were marred by accusations of dirty tricks between rival camps of MPs. An anonymous letter was circulated among Tories calling for "modernisers" to be stopped and Cameron critics claimed Downing Street was trying to silence dissent by getting its supporters on to the executive. The 1922 Committee is designed to alert ministers to backbenchers' concerns over the Government's direction. The elections became a struggle between longer-serving MPs, who have been openly critical of the Prime Minister's leadership, and younger "progressive" Tories demanding greater loyalty to Mr Cameron. The 301 Group - named after the number of MPs needed to obtain an overall majority at the next election - organised a slate of MPs first elected in 2010 to stand in the elections. They succeeded last night in securing a series of posts in the elections, which were open to backbenchers and ministerial aides. Karen Bradley, a 301 member, and Nick de Bois won the two posts of joint secretary to the committee. Mr Chope, who complained about the "massive watering-down" of Tory manifesto promises within weeks of the Coalitions creation, was defeated for the post. Mark Pritchard, another Cameron critic, had voluntarily stood down as the other 1922 secretary. Eight of the 12 MPs elected to the committee's executive are from the 301 group, including George Eustice, George Hollingbery and Priti Patel. Prominent Cameron critics Peter Bone and Philip Davies were ejected, although the right-winger Bernard Jenkin and the independent-minded Steve Baker were elected. The 301 has complained that the public attacks on Government policies by the "old guard" of traditionalist MPs are undermining support for the Tories. But their critics have retorted by labelling them Downing Street stooges, pointing to meetings between the group's leaders and ministers as evidence of collusion. The 301 Group was addressed this week by George Osborne, although the Chancellor's aides insisted the session was long-planned and unrelated to the 1922 Mr Pritchard said: "Downing Street should spend more time trying to fix the economy and less time trying to fix the 1922 elections." One right-wing member of the executive vowed not to be influenced by the 301 Group and added: "The new intake does not understand the committee should be a safety valve." Kris Hopkins, the MP for Keighley, who is a founder of the 301 Group, had said the election of new MPs would deliver "seismic" change to the committee's tone. Graham Brady was re-elected as the committee's chairman after the modernisers decided not to challenge him. Charles Walker and John Whittingdale were also returned unopposed as vice-chairmen and Brian Binley as treasurer.