May shakes up Tory whips’ office amid row

Theresa May has made a series of changes to the Tory whips’ office.

The whipping operation is led by Julian Smith, who has been at the centre of controversy over a breach of parliamentary convention which saw party chairman Brandon Lewis take part in knife-edge votes he was supposed to miss.

The changes in the junior ranks follow a mini reshuffle carried out after the recent resignations of ministers Andrew Griffiths who quit over “depraved” messages sent to a 28-yearold barmaid and her friend and Guto Bebb who left office in protest at the government’s Brexit policy. Mark Spencer and Andrew Stephenson stay government whips but with new titles – Mr Spencer is Comptroller of HM Household, Mr Stephenson the Vice Chamberlain of HM Household.

Mr Stephenson was a “pairing whip” – responsible for linking MPS who were unable to take part in a vote with a political opponent who would agree to stay away, effectively cancelling out the absence.

The system broke down when Mr Lewis voted on key Brexit measures despite being paired with deputy Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson, who was on maternity leave.