THURROCK MP Jackie Doyle-Price may not be rising from the floor of the House of Commons any time soon.
This is because she has accepted the position as an assistant whip in David Cameron’s government.
Whips are MPs appointed by each party in Parliament to help organise their party’s contribution to parliamentary business.
This means that Ms Doyle-Price is unable, unlike her first five years in the House of Commons, to represent her constituents by speaking on the floor of the House of Commons.
This is not a unique situation for Thurrock. Soon after Andrew MacKinlay became MP for Thurrock (in 1992) he became a whip but stood down after a short time as he found the position too restrictive for the very reason that he could not stand on the floor of the House of Commons.
But for others the appointment of an MP to the role of whip can be the first step up the ministerial ladder.
Jackie Doyle-Price is unavailable for comment.
