Ministerial role
Captain of the King's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (Lords Deputy Chief Whip)
Organisations:
Office of the Leader of the House of Lords
Responsibilities
Lords Whips have the same constitutional position as departmental ministers. Their role in the House of Lords is different from that of Whips in the Commons, which is predominantly party management.
A Lords Whip has an active role at the despatch box promoting and defending departmental policy which involves:
- answering questions
- responding to debates
- taking through primary and secondary legislation
If the department concerned does not have a departmental minister in the House of Lords, all of that department’s business will fall to a Whip.
Previous holders of this role
-
The Earl of Courtown
2016 to 2024
-
Lord Gardiner of Kimble
2015 to 2016
-
Lord Newby OBE
2010 to 2015