Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip)
Responsibilities
The Chief Whip is responsible for administering the whipping system that ensures that members of the party attend and vote in Parliament as the party leadership desires.
Whips are MPs or Lords appointed by each party in Parliament to help organise their party’s contribution to parliamentary business. One of their responsibilities is making sure the maximum number of their party members vote, and vote the way their party wants.
Other whip duties
Whips frequently act as tellers (counting votes in divisions). They also manage the pairing system whereby Members of opposing parties both agree not to vote when other business (such as a select committee visit) prevents them from being present at Westminster.
Whips are also largely responsible (together with the Leader of the House in the Commons) for arranging the business of Parliament. In this role they are frequently referred to as ‘the usual channels’.
Current role holder
The Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds MP
Jonathan Reynolds was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip) on 5 September 2025. He was previously Secretary of State for Business and Trade and President of the Board of Trade from 5 July 2024 to 5 September 2025.
He was elected as the MP for Stalybridge and Hyde in May 2010.
Previous holders of this role
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The Rt Hon Sir Alan Campbell MP
2024 to 2025
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The Rt Hon Simon Hart
2022 to 2024
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Wendy Morton MP
2022 to 2022
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The Rt Hon Chris Heaton-Harris
2022 to 2022
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The Rt Hon Sir Mark Spencer
2019 to 2022
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The Rt Hon Julian Smith MP
2017 to 2019
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The Rt Hon Sir Gavin Williamson CBE MP
2016 to 2017
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The Rt Hon Mark Harper
2015 to 2016
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The Rt Hon Michael Gove
2014 to 2015
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The Rt Hon Sir George Young Bt
2012 to 2014
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The Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP
2012 to 2012
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The Rt Hon Sir Patrick McLoughlin
2010 to 2012