Chloe is appointed as a Government Whip

What does a Whip do?

As well as being MP for Norwich North, Chloe Smith is a Government Whip.

The term ‘whip' within Parliament was first used in the 18th century and refers to a huntsman's assistant who steers straying hounds back to the main pack using a whip.

Although no longer involving a physical implement, the job of the modern day Parliamentary whip is to assist the delivery of Government business in Parliament, through votes or ‘divisions'.

Whips keep their MP colleagues up to date on legislative business, and keep the leadership informed of backbench opinion.

Whips also take on specific departments. Chloe is responsible for the Department for International Development and the Department for Work and Pensions.

It is, of course, important that MPs take part in national legislation as well as representing their constituents. Chloe balances these two roles by working in Westminster Monday-Thursday and returning home to Norwich Friday-Sunday.

Government Whips are not permitted to speak in House of Commons debates or table Parliamentary questions (written or oral). However, she is continuing to raise constituency concerns directly by writing to and speaking to Ministers about local and national issues.

On her appointment, Chloe said:

"The prime minister has asked me to join the government as a whip and I was delighted to accept," she said. "I'm looking forward to getting my teeth in to the role but also ensuring I remain an extremely active constituency MP and I'll take this opportunity to represent Norwich North's interests at the highest level."

"There is an enormous appetite for getting on with this chance to govern," she said. "There are serious issues facing the country and this is a chance to tackle them in a stable, constructive supportive manner. Being part of that operation is very exciting.

"But I'm determined not to forget that first and foremost I want to continue to be a hard working constituency MP.

"Being a whip is a very opportunity to work quietly and effectively in the middle of things," she added. "It isn't about keeping in the headlights and I think if you do it that way you are doing it wrong."