Whips pride themselves on their secrecy and discretion. Reporter Michael Cockerell uncovers their shadowy world and reveals how they operate. How close to reality is the fictional Chief Whip Francis Urquhart, in the drama series House of Cards? Government Whips can make or break ministers and ensure they know all the secrets of the private lives of their fellow MPs. One Tory MP claims that the Whips are a gestapo, but another says they are democracy's unsung heroes - as necessary for Parliament as sewers are for civilisation.
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Cast
29 people
Michael Cockerell
Self
Also in
Boris Johnson: The Irresistible Rise
The Rivals
Rupert Allason
Self
Also in
Garbo: The Spy
Joe Ashton
Self
Also in
World in Action
Eric Clarke
Self
Geoffrey Dickens
Self
Stephen Dorrell
Self
Also in
World in Action
Jim Dowd
Self
Iain Duncan Smith
Self
Tim Fortescue
Self
Derek Foster
Self
Tristan Garel-Jones
Self
Will Howie
Self
Anne Tyerman Editor · Phil Reynolds Editor
First release May 21, 1995 · Produced in United Kingdom
Production
BBC
Production
United Kingdom
Produced in
Languages
Original language
English
Spoken on screen
English
Release dates
United Kingdom · May 21, 1995
TV
No release date listed for United States.