SCARBOROUGH MP Robert Goodwill has been given a new position in the Conservative party.
Following a reshuffle in the Whips office Mr Goodwill is now the front bench team’s pairing whip.
Having acted as treasury whip and Defra whip, Mr Goodwill now has the number three post in the Whip’s Office.
The role involves telling Conservative MP’s whether or not they will be required to vote after calculating how important any division will be and whether it’s likely to be won or lost.
He will have to decide whether MPs who plead urgent constituency business, family difficulties or travel problems should be allowed to go or asked to stay.
Mr Goodwill said: “Potentially I will be the most popular or unpopular person in parliament. It will be a bit of a juggling act, but it is a promotion for me, and I’m looking forward to it.”
Mr Goodwill follows outgoing pairing whip Michael Fabricant.