Ministerial role

Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms (Lords 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

  1. The Rt Hon Baroness Williams of Trafford

    2022 to 2024

  2. The Rt Hon Lord Ashton of Hyde

    2019 to 2022

  3. The Rt Hon Lord Taylor of Holbeach CBE

    2014 to 2019

  4. The Rt Hon Baroness Anelay of St Johns DBE

    2010 to 2014