In this conversation, Dan Rob Jones interviews Sebastian Whale, author of The Usual Channels: Inside the Mysterious World of Political Whips.

They explore the changing role of the Whips' Office in Parliament, starting with one of the most unhinged years in modern British politics: 1974. Seb shares insights from his research, including how the dynamics of managing MPs have changed, how intelligence gathering works within the whips' office, the balance of power between whips and Downing Street, why backbench rebellions are overrated, and the skills that distinguish great whips from average ones. Seb also shares his picks for the all-time best Chief Whips.

Seb's book, The Usual Channel Channels: Inside the Mysterious World of Political Whips is available from Bookshop.org, Waterstones and Amazon.

At the end of of the episode, Seb recommends The End of the Party: The Rise and Fall of New Labour by Andrew Rawnsley and All Out War: The Full Story of How Brexit Sank Britain’s Political Class by Tim Shipman.

Subscribe to The Westminster Review of Books Substack
Follow the show on X/Twitter at @WestReviewBooks

The Westminster Review of Books is a new podcast where we'll speak to authors of the most compelling new books about politics, history, and philosophy.

Please do subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and you can connect on Twitter/X @WestReviewBooks.