whip

   The name given to officials who manage the supporters of their party in a legislature. The term derives from the whipper in’ of English hunting parlance, whose role it is to keep the pack together in chasing its quarry. The whips are key figures in party organisation, with responsibility for maintaining discipline and unity. In British politics, the Chief Whip is assisted by between 8 and 10 assistant whips, all Members of Parliament (MPs).

   Whipped votes are votes in which the party whips instruct members on the line they are expected to adopt, the term ‘whip’ also being applied to the notice of business that requires attendance to vote with the party in forthcoming divisions. Items are underlined once, twice or three times, according to their importance. For a ‘threeline whip’, MPs are expected to attend, absence only being countenanced if a member is out of the country on parliamentary business or seriously ill, or has other exceptional reasons. On occasion, MPs may be allowed to miss votes, if they can make an approved pairing arrangement.