Whipped into shape: is politics just a game to MPs?

Underhand, "bullying", quid-pro-quo... are whips helping run the country, or turning politics into a game of political point-scoring?Armando and Anoosh are joined by playwright James Graham and professor of politics Chris Hanretty to discuss the whipping operation in parliament - and whether blowing the whistle on whips' tactics will actually change anything for the better.GuestsJames Graham is the award-winning writer of political plays This House, Brexit: The Uncivil War and Labour of LoveChris Hanretty is a professor at Royal Holloway University who studies pork barrel politics.--This episode was originally published in the New Statesman podcast feed on May 11, 2022.Listen to the New Statesman podcast here: https://podfollow.com/new-statesmanSubscribe to the New Statesman for full access to all our reporting and analysis.Get your first month free: www.newstatesman.com/30daytrial Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.