One of the most misunderstood and oft-caricatured jobs in British politics whips are the unseen unsung heroes of the parliamentary system without whom governments would doubtless crumble and legislative business would almost certainly grind to a halt. Whips are shrouded in mystery however often portrayed in the media and by colleagues as a brutish bullying bunch of thugs with a reputation for using blackmail and torture to achieve party discipline and get legislation through the House.

How to Be a Government Whip is a frank and light-hearted guide to the forgotten engine room of Parliament perfect for those who aspire to be amongst their ranks as well as those just hoping to avoid them. From the mind-numbing tedium of debates to the dark arts of dealing with rebellious or disaffected members of their 'flock' former whip Helen Jones reveals how they really get business done - and what they say about their colleagues behind the closed door of the Whips' Office.

Helen Jones is a Labour politician who has sat as the Member of Parliament for Warrington North since 1997. She served in the Whips Office during Gordon Brown's tenure as Prime Minister and held several posts in Ed Miliband's shadow Cabinet. She is currently Chair of the House of Commons Petitions Select Committee. She has worked as a solicitor and was a development officer for the mental health charity MIND.