Keith, if they allow themselves to be whipped into line, then they will lose their electorate.
However, a whip in Parliament means, if it is a three line whip - that the MPs of the particular party that imposes the whip MUST attend at the vote and take part in it, however it doesn't mean that they MUST vote as the Party prescribes. They can also vote against the imposed guidelines.
Otherwise it would be a tyranny.
Quite right, Keith, the Tory Party is splitting apart, for various reasons. Col. Dave will be democratically dismissed, in no uncertain terms, and he will possibly join T. Blair and become an adviser to other governments
