Whips
Exclusive: whips ask ministerial aides to snoop on their bosses
Not wanting to heap worries onto the Prime Minister when he’s just about found harmony with his party, but as well as the underused backbenchers I mentioned this morning, he… Continue reading
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Allegations of cunning play over final passage of Justice and Security bill
There have been angry mutterings from the backbenches today about the passage of the Justice and Security Bill last night, with allegations of cunning play by the whips. It appears… Continue reading
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Whips try to neutralise row over gay marriage scrutiny arrangements
In the next few hours as the vote on the second reading of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill approaches, the ‘undecideds’ are declaring how they will vote. Yesterday I… Continue reading
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The party of little tykes
Whose fault is it that the Tory party is so rebellious? Some think it’s the beastly backbenchers, while others argue it’s the Tory leadership. I was amused to watch a… Continue reading
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Andrew Mitchell’s next step could be an international job
The Westminster grapevine is buzzing with the latest rumours about the truth of ‘pleb-gate’. There are legal limits to what we can say. But a few things seem certain. Andrew… Continue reading
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Was the deputy chief whip just doing his job by passing on Mitchell concerns?
The latest twist in the Andrew Mitchell story is particularly intriguing. The Guardian is reporting that news of the confrontation between the police and the chief whip was passed onto Downing… Continue reading
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How do you solve a problem like Nadine Dorries?
Nadine Dorries has returned to the UK today, with a meeting between the first evictee of I’m a Celebrity: Get me Out of Here! and the chief whip due soon.… Continue reading
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Another headache for the Tory whips
Today brings yet another set of reminders for Numbers 9, 10 and 11 Downing Street about how difficult maintaining party discipline is going to be. First, there’s The Guardian story… Continue reading
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Order returns to the Tory party on fuel duty vote
Tonight was a good one for the Tory whips. What looked last week like it could have been a tricky vote on a Labour motion to delay the fuel duty… Continue reading
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Government expects to lose EU budget vote
While the rebel whips are still rounding up Tory MPs to vote against the government on the EU budget motion, which starts in the Commons shortly, a senior government source… Continue reading
22 Comments EU budget: MPs warned revolt ‘could undermine coalition’
It was inevitable that the new team of whips was going to be rather unsettled by tomorrow’s vote on the EU budget: it’s the first challenge the team has had… Continue reading
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Tory whips in a flap over EU budget rebellion deploy Rees-Mogg
At this morning’s Cabinet meeting, ministers discussed tomorrow’s debate on the EU budget, which is shaping up to be a big row. MPs I have spoken to who have either… Continue reading
52 Comments Andrew Mitchell needs to worry about his own team, not Labour’s £1,000 fine threat
Determined to keep the Andrew Mitchell story alive for as long as possible, Labour confirmed this morning that next week’s Opposition Day debate will follow the party’s call for Andrew… Continue reading
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Andrew Mitchell’s predecessor is ‘sorely missed’, jokes former whip
While some of his colleagues were dabbing tears from their eyes or pacing their Portcullis House offices in fury after being dumped by David Cameron in the reshuffle, Michael Fabricant… Continue reading
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The new Tory enforcers
Last week’s reshuffle not only brought in some interesting new junior ministers, but also some fresh faces to the Conservative Whips’ Office. Rebellions on the backbenches have become a headache… Continue reading
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Appointment of new chief whip Andrew Mitchell sends clear signal to Tory rebels
Andrew Mitchell’s appointment as chief whip sends out several messages to Conservative MPs. First, the decision to move a high-performing secretary of state to the whips office and the news… Continue reading
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Reshuffling the whips won’t solve Cameron’s rebel problem
One of the biggest problems that David Cameron faces at the moment is discipline within his own party. He was astonished by the size of the rebellion on the second… Continue reading
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Cameron’s attack on Jesse Norman will backfire
Jesse Norman became the hero of the hour yesterday afternoon when the government admitted defeat against the Tory rebels and dropped the programme motion on Lords reform. Norman was keen… Continue reading
16 CommentsWhipping up a storm
It looks like about a third of Tory backbenchers will rebel in tonight’s vote on an EU referendum. 18 months into government, this is a massive rebellion and one that… Continue reading
18 CommentsCameron starts playing catch-up over the EU referendum vote
Adjust your calendars, CoffeeHousers. The parliamentary vote on an EU referendum is no longer set for next Thursday. As the Mail’s James Chapman revealed this evening, Downing Street has moved… Continue reading
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