Whips
Selected letter
W
Whips are MPs or members of the House of Lords appointed by each party to inform and organise their own members in Parliament. One of their responsibilities is to make sure that their members vote in divisions, and vote in line with party policy. It is the party whips, along with the Leader and Shadow Leaders of each House, that negotiate behind the scenes to arrange the day to day business in Parliament - a process often referred to as 'the usual channels'.
The Chief Whip of a party is a senior position and they are usually involved in top-level party discussions.