Some of you have asked about or commented on whipping in Parliament.
I support good Parliamentary whipping. It is personnel management to organise a government that can govern and a strong Opposition that can oppose.You cannot govern without the backing of a majority of MPs to help you put through measures and ward off No confidence motions . You should not be able to carry proposals in Parliament without satisfying most of your supporters of their wisdom.
Whips will inform MPs of when and how to back government proposals and take back to Ministers criticisms and suggestions for improvement. The MPs as the sales force for government policies have a say through feedback in the manufacture of the product.If a proposal is annoying a lot of MPs there will be meetings with the relevant Ministers. These can result in amendment or even dropping of the measures.
Politics is always a numbers game. It is no good an MP having all the right ideas if the majority will not support them.
In the Commons every day there is at least a one line whip saying your attendance is requested, with no requirement to vote. Many days are 3 line whips where your presence is required and your vote needed.You need to explain if you wish to be absent, abstain or vote against the whip. Whips have power to issue slips from votes. They usually agree if the MP is ill, has an important meeting to attend on government or constituency business or a family emergency. In extreme cases and key votes you could be subject to disciplinary processes . Loss of the whip is a sanction which would stop you being an official party candidate at the next election.
Whipping in the Lords is less intense. The Conservative whip is usually a two line where your attendance is encouraged. The importance of the guidance the whip offers is seen in recent votes as on Chagos where the government was defeated by combined action. I have accepted the Conservative whip and look forward to helping the official opposition in the Lords.
This site remains an independent site, not an official Conservative party one. That was also true when I was on the Commons Conservative whip.
February 12, 2026
Whips will inform MPs of when and how to back government proposals and take back to Ministers criticisms and suggestions for improvement.
In other words follow the leaders and party line and a big two fingers up to the people who put you in parliament, this as got to change ballocks to your party who ever you belong to , but to the people who put you there when they voted for you under your agenda when you were crawling and ringing your sweaty palms like Charles Dickens novel David Copperfields Uriah Heep asking for your vote
February 12, 2026
Yes, it does look very much as if we get given the two fingers.
Even taking into consideration the shifting sands of every day events and their relationship to politics/governance, it seems as if we are often the last to be considered.
The absolute state of our nation now requires drastic surgery to ensure we are being governed for our benefit.
Not until we have serious consequences for those using their position to further personal gain/ideology, or that of their friends, will we be sure we have a safety net to protect us from the unscrupulous.
I’m given to understand manifesto’s and all and any election promises are not binding in any way.
Perhaps that also needs to change. Well, there’s no perhaps about it, it certainly needs to change.
I believed Cameron when he said reducing immigration to 10’s of 1000’s and a bonfire of the quango’s amongst other things. I lent my vote to the Conservatives on that occasion and well, the rest is history.
No attempt was made to enact any of it in fact they made it all worse.
Selling something under false pretences is not accepted in consumer choice and it most certainly shouldn’t be accepted in the governance of our lives.
February 12, 2026
Never blog when angry, not a good optic. Look beyond the red mist and ask how could any party manage the country if it was subject to effectively a daily referendum on its legislation.
What has been highlighted is that this system is opaque, consequently people’s trust is zero.
Lord JR assures us our views, and if people don’t tell their MP what they are, just rant from their armchair, serves them right if no one listens, are passed on to Ministers, but we have no means of knowing that. An MP will be very ambitious so likely not to rock the boat.
The public face of MPs, we see toe curling obsequiousness in Parliament is apparently at odds, if you believe Lord JR, with what goes on behind the scenes.
Until my MP explains how our views have been fed back, the effect etc on the proposed legislation, I will struggle to believe him.
February 12, 2026
Meanwhile, a very interesting piece on Starmer in ‘The Spectator’.
I hesitate to use the phrase ‘Tim Shipman is surely correct in today’s Spectator’.
However there are various claims, allegedly from insiders. Firstly, the idea that Starmer has no firm beliefs or great interest in any topic and is easily persuaded. Hence the numerous U turns. A statement that from Friday afternoon until Monday morning Starmer’s focus is not politics and he does not turn up for work on Monday with new ideas after weekend reflection.
Aside from the Spectator article, I notice Keir has something of a dead cat bounce. Strange reports of Starmer speaking with passion, Starmer ‘demanding’ Jim Ratcliffe apologise etc. Perhaps he believes if he just follows the lead of his backbenchers he is safe in the job for a bit longer and the policies pursued don’t particularly matter?
February 12, 2026
@Mick +1 , I couldn’t have said it better ‘stick two fingers’ up to the electorate and the country and then try to suggest orders from a Gang Boss constitutes Democracy. For Parliament to even think that way says a lot about those that believe they are the ‘Political Elite’, so they don’t Govern they Rule.
February 12, 2026
Whipping us one of the reasons people dislike the current system.
Andrew Bridgen is a case in point
He tried to highlight the folly of tje Covid response and was cancelled from the party. Toe the line or else. This is not healthy
I see milibrains has been challenged to release the report on the China visit but refused to do so. Why is he immune from scrutiny.
February 12, 2026
Whips in the Lords seems odd – after all the Lords are there for life. What effective sanctions can be imposed?
February 12, 2026
Cold shoulders perhaps a dirty look or two perhaps? It is good that they can vote against the partly line when they feel strongly on something. Nearly everything this government is pushing through the Lords currently is appalling and hugely damaging.
So Two Tier Kier boasts of being “one of only four Labour leaders who won an election” He did not win it Sunak et al threw it away. All four were disasters. Attlee, Wilson, Blair & Starmer the last three I can remember and they did not so much “win” the elections as they were gifted to them by Pro-Europe, big government socialists and economic incompetents Ted (three day week) Heath, John (ERM fiasco) Major and the con-socialist green crap, open door to immigration, tax and regulate to death lunacy of Cameron, May, Boris and especially let’s quit early lockdown and duff vaccine fan Sunak!
A great shame Churchill did not undo the Attlee disasters, Thatcher the Attlee and Wilson disasters, Cameron through to Sunak the Attlee, Wilson and Blair/Brown disasters alas they actually build on them.
It see we will have to wait for Fararge and even then will the blob allow him to. The task will be even larger once Labour go. Assuming they allow the general election.
February 12, 2026
@Wanderer – while there is a case for an Upper Chamber, there is no case for an unelected unaccountable so-called ‘House’ . Its like suggesting Government by the EU Commission is legitimate
February 12, 2026
Good morning.
Ooo-err misses !
Well someone had to say it 🙂
I am against the whipping of MP’s. MP’s are elected to represent the people of their constituencies and, if there is a policy that was not in the manifesto then undue pressure could be brought on an MP which may act in a way that is against those that elected them.
I know from his own writing here that our kind host has fallen fowl of the Whipps but, pointed out that he already had his own MP / constituent manifesto which highlighted areas where there is likely conflict between government and MP. Please feel free to correct and / or clarify if need be, JR.
February 12, 2026
@Mark B +1 Agreed
By every measure whipping is anti democratic. In the same way we lend our MP our power, and we let them choose a leader in Parliament. The leader, PM, the Gang Bosses are not chosen by the electorate. The electorate the people have no say, that could be seen as an odd meaning for even a pretend democracy. Then we have a whole Parliament that fights the idea they should have elections(proper regular elections ) so we the people can confirm approval of the directions they are taking us and the country. Why are they so afraid, so frightened of the people that empower and pay their wages?
February 12, 2026
Maybe SJR has fallen “fowl” of the Whips, but I would never call him “Chicken”!
February 12, 2026
I believe the Whips were afraid of JR, his file was empty so that had nothing on him and he had a mind of his own.
February 12, 2026
Whipping is intended to ensure that the MP does what the Party Leader wants, not what he believes or what his Constituents want. And, since Manifestos are generally ditched the minute the crosses have been counted, not necessarily what the MP was elected to deliver.
Nice to see you on the Farage Show last night, m’Lord.
February 12, 2026
Whips inform and assist. They also enforce by threats and promises. Erskine May paragraph 15.28 says: “The acceptance by a Member of either House of a bribe to influence them in their conduct as a Member, or of any fee, compensation or reward in connection with the promotion of or opposition to any bill, resolution, matter or thing submitted or intended to be submitted to either House, or to a committee, is a contempt.”
If I attempted to suborn or threaten a Member I should be in contempt. Why aren’t parties when they do it?
February 12, 2026
Brilliant point. Surely threatening to effectively put an MP out of work by withdrawing the whip is tantamount to bribery.
February 12, 2026
@Nick +1 exactly
Why are their even Parties? According to our(the UK’s) processes we vote for a Candidate to represent us, the Constituency and the Country. No one party, political religion, with it inbred ideology that verges on terrorism can ever represent each individual in each and every part of the country. It/they require the people to be obedient clones, surfs, slaves of the master and lord that has assumed control.
February 12, 2026
All MPs are elected on a manifesto and have a duty to support it with their votes.
Whips are a critical communication between the Government and their majority, and it should be a two way street.
However there are times when it is critical to defy the whip, for instance Rosindell signed the Lowe motion arising from his independent Inquiry into the Rape Gangs (the ONLY one) in spite of being under the Reform whip which demands ignoring Lowe no matter what the issue.
There are also matters of conscience, and from the horrific evidence heard and published by these tens of thousands of British children, girls and women, betrayed by all the institutions of our country, it seems that we need to revisit the reintroduction of the death penalty for these heinous crimes.
I don’t know if Lowe is soliciting support from the Lords, but I think it would be a great help JR, if you publicly gave your support to this investigation and to the victims who outnumber those of Epstein by 250 – 1 at least.
I just want to add that while I know of nobody more deserving of the highest honours we can muster, and appreciate that The Rt. Hon. Lord Redwood of Wokingham is a token of the country’s appreciation for your unswerving dedication to our cause and wellbeing, I think you have imbued your own name with that honour yourself, and find it hard to improve on it. So I will continue to refer to you in these comments as JR as a mark of respect rather than the reverse.
February 12, 2026
I see Jenrick has also gone his own way and offered support to Lowe and his Rape Gang Hearings.
Word is that Jenrick is not happy in his new party…
February 12, 2026
I think often whips themselves are lied to, the state does something stupid, lies about it to ministers, ministers add a bit of gloss on and tell the whips, and the whips reassure MP’s all is well. So it cannot be an easy job. In the reverse direction voters scream at MP’s immigration is out of control, MP’s pass the message on tactfully to whips who reassure, ministers come up with diversions like Rwanda, and the state prints more visa like confetti. the system simply does not work.
February 12, 2026
Certainly it does not work for the electorate! Virtually no real growth in living standards for 20+ years in the UK.
February 12, 2026
Whipping should only apply where the government is adhering strictly to its manifesto. Outside of this there is no contract with either the MP or the voter.
February 12, 2026
Depends what the individual MP said in his leaflet to voters, some of them promise to support their party in power no matter what. Others promise to support some given issue whatever else happens. These mini local manifestos are also routinely ignored once they have been elected.
People like John Slinger who simply vote for whatever their party leaders want him to vote for, and never ever anything else, are a waste of a seat in parliament, they just add inertia.
MP’s once their party is in power who spend half their time organising silly little petitions like “the NHS must improve” like they are still 6th form students are also a waste of time. Especially when they refuse to hear anyone be critical of the NHS who they will claim is more holy than all the religions on earth, except when they themselves are running the petition. A nonsense petition in any case since their party is in power, and they already have access to the relevant ministers.
And so on.
February 12, 2026
Agree 100% “brow-beating, whipping like flogging” are medieval terms but this government think as in the Stone Age.
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February 12, 2026
It’s taken from ‘Whipper-in’ in hunting terms, they keep the pack together and make sure they don’t ‘lose’ hounds who wander off.
February 12, 2026
The manifesto is just an advert (a document of lies just to win votes). It is not regards as a contract by the party or the MPs voted in they generally forget it the day after the election. If voters think it is a contract they have been fooled as was fully intended.
February 12, 2026
Unforseen events happen, we expect our elected government and MPs to react in character to these, and at times they need to be informed that the vote is critical and close, and they no leeway can be given.
However Whips are there to sound out the party and sometimes take the bad news to the PM – that they will not get a measure through …. Parliament has ultimate responsibility and huge POWER OVER GOVERNMENT.
Between elections we need to keep our individual MPs up to the mark.
Democracy is a living thing day by day, not a twice a decade event.
February 12, 2026
Whipping in the Lords is a nonsense IMO. The Lords exists as a revising chamber to make and shape laws, hold the government to account, and investigate public policy. It should act as a last check on the House of Commons, reviewing legislation in detail, amending bills, and providing expertise through committees to ensure better lawmaking.
It should not need 800 members, it should not group in supporting or rejecting the Government policies in principle. The GE voters rightly or wrongly put trust in the elected Party (it ideally would be the individuals) to carry out a range of measures and laws indicated by the campaigning and manifesto (ha ha).
So much for democracy.
February 12, 2026
At the very pinnacle of human knowledge and development in today’s digital age with AI and supercomputers on tap, we are being pulled back by dinosaur thinking leaders.
Why would you cling to a doomed project like the EU unless you are clueless and cannot stand seeing into the future despite being given free designer expensive glasses for short sighted ness
February 12, 2026
It could be suggested that by the lack of elections, therefore lack of democracy, Parliament its MPs are whipping the nation and its people. What are these Gang Bosses, MPs so afraid of… Democracy?
February 12, 2026
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is absolutely right: Monaco is colonised by immigrants … like him.,
February 12, 2026
And the Princess?
February 13, 2026
Sir Jim now contributes greatly to the economy of Monaco hefner.
Having generated millions in tax revenue from his businesses and personally for the UK in many years before.
Still employing hundreds of people with good salaries who pay taxes.
Shame he wasn’t motivated or encouraged to stay in the UK
A golden goose allowed to fly away.
You and others on the left want to denigrate the wealthy UK people and push them out.
Equality.. well equally poor.
February 12, 2026
To reflect on the intension behind whipping, there is a direct comparison to the treatment of Jimmy Lai. Mr Lai, a British citizen has been held in solitary confinement for at least 1,800 days, with no access to sunlight for most of that time, his lawyers say. His crime, to dare to criticise the State, to not succumb to the ‘whipping of opinion’ by Gang Bosses
PM Starmer is aware of his situation, one can only imagine that based on his own record he approves of the treatment. Some of us could rightly reflect that 2TK’s posture in the UK is mimicking those practises of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). A place that by all accounts has whipping all versions as accepted practice of the fight against dissension.
In UK terms it starts with the salami slice, we need to do that because…. Then there is nothing left. Can’t happen in the UK? Look at the Country since Blair, then look at the acceleration under Starmer. All the intervening leaders, Gang Bosses, have been in fear of themselves so have taken the fight to the people to block Democracy
February 12, 2026
What you describe as Whipping I find redolent of the Public School prefect system that has little place in a modern democracy. MPs are elected and governments are created on the basis of a manifesto.Except at times of national crisis no MP should be dragooned into voting along government lines outside or contrary to the manifesto.
In extremis, I see Whipping as akin to being a pimp in a whorehouse. Controlling the hookers with threats and bribes. Our current PM figuratively claiming he only plays the piano, and most times at overseas concerts. An army, whose sole motivation is King’s Regulations, is set up for defeat on day one.
The World is a very different place to what it was twenty years ago. The electorate are infinitely better informed. On major subjects both MPs and the electorate need to be consulted. Weekends at Chequers or Referendums. Objectives need to be clear and agreed upon. Off piste top down is past its sell by date. The obscenity of ignoring the Brexit referendum, and the current government’s shambles are what happens when you get it wrong by restricting democracy to the previous century’s morays.
Reply If you tried to settle everything from completely independent MPs it would very difficult to get agreement on propositions, let alone a coherent programme. You might get tax cuts and spending increases leading over borrowing and financial collapse.
February 13, 2026
@Reply, – surely it is no about making it easy for Parliament and MPs, particularly those that belong to gangs. The assumption being made is that only a party, generally a party that belongs to one political religion knows best. Personally, I can’t see one group that is a clear choice on everything in every corner of the country. Democracy is more important than any group in Parliament being challenged, that the point being challenged, that is also the point of regular elections as they are referenda on direction
Reply Because we need parties to organise coherent programmes for government there will be compromises within a party. There is also strong democratic debate within a party about that balance of policies.
February 13, 2026
Reply to Reply
If it is in a manifesto on which they got elected it is reasonable to expect loyalty. Beyond the manifesto MPs should consult with and be beholden to their constituents, which is why I suggested gatherings at Chequers and on big questions a referendum. Political parties, if they are to continue to exist, must respond to the electorate, but not like May’s treacherous behaviour. She debased politics and democracy.
February 12, 2026
From the experience of the last few years, we have had and still have weak leadership, and the whips have propped them up. We then have weak MPs, ambitious for office, who are afraid to step out of line, and so back policies they don’t agree with.
The feedback system does not appear to work very well, as MPs on the doorsteps must be getting serious, critical comments about Immigration, both legal and illegal. But there is no sign of people’s concerns being taken seriously. A proper Government, following its manifesto, should not need to whip MPs into obedience, except on rare occasions.
February 12, 2026
It all seems a little odd when you think that MPs are supposed to represent constituents, and yet they can be bullied into supporting anything the government deems important to their party.
The only way we can tell the basic philosophy of an MP is by which party he belongs to – Parliament needs to be more about what voters want and less about the aims of a political party….. or is that too naive?
Too much legislation goes through without a full and proper debate that the public can be aware of – it’s almost like HMG is determined to keep debate to a minimum in too many instances – when it is passed as law then we don’t have a chance to change it. The public needs to be involved in important decisions, but MPs should be there to protect us from bad oppressive laws.
February 12, 2026
Indian police seized over 100,000 fake degrees from 22 universities. 11 individuals arrested for producing counterfeit degrees, which were being used to secure jobs in medicine, nursing and engineering.
How many Doctors, nurses or engineers are working in the U.K. with fake documents?
February 12, 2026
Would be interesting if anybody in the UK investigates this matter
February 12, 2026
What has become of us; the plague, the armada, 1st and 2nd world wars, covid ….and we’re scared of ‘words’
February 12, 2026
As far as the Upper Chamber is concerned I want it abolished and reduced to 100 elected members free of affiliations and have served their local communities and country.Perhaps every five years.
Enough of time-served puppets and lapdogs.
In your case I make an exception(under present rules) and would vote for you,if able,wherever you were a candidate As for the
to the “honours system”.Companion of Honour for anyone who has served their country in civil and/or
military capacity.End of the “gongs” eg bem mbe obe cbe kbe and the rest of ’em
February 12, 2026
100% Agree
February 12, 2026
So you don’t want it abolished.
February 12, 2026
Several Labour and Conservative whips over recent years have been such obviously distasteful characters that the whole whipping process has been brought into disrepute.
February 12, 2026
My Lord,.
I have been of the opinion for many years that, the party system has almost destroyed our democracy.
People are conditioned to vote for a party, but I wonder how many people may vote for an independent local candidate, who has the well being of the local area at heart?
Reply Very few. Candidates gave tried that.People want to help choose a government. Government need ,majorities which needs whips.
February 12, 2026
reply to reply…..and in your new role you will be able to remind Members of how they came to be nominated to the House of Lords and can wear scarlet wool robes with white miniver fur capes only for ceremonial occasions like the State Opening of Parliament or introductions.
February 12, 2026
I see Labour is pushing to align with the EU’s food and agriculture standards and ban oatcakes in the UK. Talk about reverse Brexit and madness.
I will watch with interest when they tell the public they cannot have oatcakes, half of Scotland will rebel.
The political bubble really are mad.
February 12, 2026
Interesting that the LibDem’s in the House of Lords are asking for support from the Tories, to present a ‘fatal motion’ to force through local elections
February 13, 2026
My Lord, I hope you are finding your new home in the HoLs to your liking.
You didn’t talk about the pairing process MPs adopt in the HoCs which enables absence without voting risk. Maybe you would comment on that for us.
Down here in the less rarefied world of everyday life, we are trying to come to terms with new terms imposed on society. The latest Woke adoption is ‘gunperson’ following the incident involving the shootings in a British Columbian school in Canada by a ‘person wearing a dress’.
We live in very damaging and damaged times.
Reply The Commons used to have 2 line whips, which allowed any MP to pair with any opposing party MP so both would be absent.The whips decided to end 2 line whips, and to handle pairings between the 2 front benches. An MP has to apply to be slipped and the 2 main parties slip similar numbers.
February 13, 2026
It would also be of interest to learn more about the preparatory stages of bills. What research is done before a draft bill is attempted? Who reaearches and reports on what existing legislation already covers, what needs revising or repeal, what are the gaps in legislation that must be filled to give effect to the policy. Is there a scoping study? Should implementation be phased? Who starts the drafting, presumably a minister directs a department to prepare a draft. At what stage do backbench or committee MPs become involved in the actual drafting of a government bill or do they only comment on civil service drafts? Who decides whether a public consultation is required and at what stage? How and at what stage are affected industry sectors and special interest groups involved and to what extent? Do MPs and civil servants work together in a dedicated team?
My guess is that many MPs – and parties – arrive in parliament with an agenda without having done any serious research or analysis to support an effective legislative programme, or even to have properly defined the issue and to confirm it is worth devoting limited parliamentary time and public resources to a substantive legislative programme.
February 13, 2026
Governments should only whip their MPs for legislation announced in their manifesto. Everything else should be a free vote. But the inability to effect a piece of legislation on such a free vote should not be taken as a vote of confidence