Exclusive:
There are currently 20 Tory whips in the Commons as Kemi Badenoch fears fresh defections to Reform – compared to just 16 for Labour, who have more than double the number of MPs
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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“While the Tories are gearing up for years of division and infighting, Labour is focused on delivering through our Plan for Change – with investment and reform to boost growth and put money back in people’s pockets.”
The proportion of whips in Ms Badenoch’s opposition is significantly higher than in recent years. There are currently 20 Tory whips in the Commons, compared to just 16 for Labour, who have more than double the number of MPs.
If Labour were to match the proportion of MPs serving as whips in Kemi Badenoch’s Tory Party, there would be nearly 70 MPs in post.
David Cameron ’s first government in 2010 had 17 commons whips, 6 per cent of the Parliamentary party. Theresa May ’s 2017 government had 18 whips, 6 per cent of the Parliamentary party. And Boris Johnson ’s 2019 government had 17 whips, 5 per cent of the Parliamentary Party.
