The Usual Channels

"It's like the Society of Jesus in the eighteenth century," said one former party whip. "You show them the Bible but also the instruments of torture."
Shrouded in mystery, political whips play a pivotal role in the functioning of the UK's democracy. But rumours abound about the tactics used behind the scenes to urge MPs to vote in the desired division lobbies. As politicians find refuge on social media and parliamentary dark arts come under the spotlight, do whips still hold the upper hand?
The Unusual Channels pulls back the curtain on one of Westminster's most curious elements: the inner workings of the whips' office. It shows us the mechanics of the whips' office; how it operates; who's in it; the different forms of whipping, both positive and negative; the history and importance of whips; and some of the more notorious characters who have held the position.

Sebastian Whale is a freelance journalist and author of Call to Order, the acclaimed biography of John Bercow. He was formerly political editor for The House magazine and a reporter for POLITICO.