One in five Tory MPs act as whips to make sure 'unruly' party behave themselves
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Nearly one in five Tory MPs act as whips to make sure the ‘unruly and divided’ Conservative Party behave themselves, research suggests. Some 17% of Tory MPs are also whips, who serve as ‘enforcers’ in the House of Commons. They keep tabs on MPs’ behaviour, while also having responsibility for their wellbeing and serving as a ‘conduit’ between the backbenches and the party leadership.
But Labour said the huge proportion of MPs playing the role was a sign of Ms Badenoch being paranoid about the threat of fresh defections to Reform. Earlier this month, former Home Secretary Suella Braverman was forced to deny rumours she would follow her husband’s lead and join Nigel Farage ’s party. And Ms Badenoch’s leadership rival Robert Jenrick has continued his media blitz by signing a deal with GB News.
A Labour spokesperson said: “Conservative MPs are clearly as unruly and divided as Tory members. With a slew of defections to Reform, it’s no surprise that Kemi Badenoch wants to limit dissent from her MPs in Parliament by cranking up the numbers of enforcers.
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