Teaching Comparative Government and Politics

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Political guessing game

Can you figure out what is meant by "withdrawing the whip" from the reporting? (The answer comes after the article.) By the way, do you know what an MEP is?

Whip withdrawn from Tory MEPs who voted to block Brexit progress
Two rebel Conservative MEPs who voted to block moves towards trade talks between the UK and European Union have been stripped of the party whip…

The decision to remove the whip was backed by Downing Street in a sign that Theresa May is preparing to get tough with her party over Brexit as the talks move into a crucial phase…

The whip was removed from the two senior MEPs after consultation between the party’s European parliament chief whip, Dan Dalton, and Downing Street…

In his letter to the pair, [party spokesman] Dalton said: “The Brexit negotiations are the most important negotiations our country faces and reaching a new partnership with the European Union is in the interests of both the UK and the EU.

“The resolution by the European parliament sought to delay progress in the negotiations between the UK and the EU by holding back talks on the future relationship. It also proposed that one part of the UK, Northern Ireland, could remain in the single market and customs union, while the rest of the UK departs – which is not acceptable.

“Given the seriousness of this issue, and your failure to discuss your intention to vote against the agreed position of the Conservative delegation in advance, I am therefore writing to inform you that I am suspending the Conservative whip from you until further notice.”…

What does it mean to withdraw the whip?

The whip is a parliamentary term dating back to 1742. ... In modern usage, whips are parliamentary enforcers who provide inducements and punishments to MPs who do not "toe the party line", and in the extreme case of expelling an MP from a party, the party withdraws the whip.  Sep 20, 2013

The Whip in British Politics


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1 Comments:

At 11:45 AM, Anonymous Arsal said...

very informative and brilliant article.

 

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