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.
Be the first with news from Mirror Politics
BLUESKY: Follow our Mirror Politics account on Bluesky here. And follow our Mirror Politics team here – Lizzy Buchan, Jason Beattie, Kevin Maguire, Sophie Huskisson, Dave Burke, Ashley Cowburn, Mikey Smith
POLITICS WHATSAPP: Be first to get the biggest bombshells and breaking news by joining our Politics WhatsApp group here. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you want to leave our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
NEWSLETTER: Or sign up here to the Mirror’s Politics newsletter for all the best exclusives and opinions straight to your inbox.
PODCAST: And listen to our exciting new political podcast The Division Bell, hosted by the Mirror and the Express every Thursday.
“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.