that s the nature of delivering on a collective policy- programme to which mps, when you are elected for i a particular party, should sign up. that is obviously very different - from public spending being brought into that conversation. as i say, i have never known that happen. i it certainly never happened to me. nor have i known of any colleague ever going. about doing it in that way. maybe you ve just been a very good boy. i am a very good boy, i hasten to add. - but, you know, quite seriously, it is not a tactic. it is not one we would ever, you know, put in motion, i nor with the civil service allow it. simon, can wejust play you, then, this clip from christian wakeford today? now, the important context, until yesterday he was a conservative mp, things have obviously gone wrong and his relationship with the conservative party, for whatever reason, he crossed the floor in dramatic fashion to the labour party. he was asked about some of his reasoning today and he was asked about h
whilst i m not in any way- making light of the allegation. i think if there is specific - evidence it should be brought forward. in practice, i don t . think it s a threat that could ever be realised. that s different from the threat being made, though, isuppose, and, like, anyone who has spent any time in westminster knows that it is just one of those, sort of common legends that when things get tough all sorts of enticements, bribes, are offered or withdrawn. you must have just as a backbench mp of a few years standing have heard this legend, too. well, the whips have a job to do in both governmentl and opposition side, and we shouldn t be| naive about this. theirjob is to make - sure government business is delivered and that. a mixture of tactics that are legitimately involved - in that work, and i don t think that we would be being honest if we didn t pretend that can i in times involves some robust conversations. about what we were elected to deliver. i that s the nature of delive