Government in crisis: Tory whips launch charm offensive to subdue rebels

BACKBENCH Tory MPs were discovering yesterday that they had become crucially important to a government in trouble with a majority of only 21 votes.

Almost all 200 backbench Conservative MPs had had a telephone call from their regional whip to ask how they felt about the pit closures. But instead of using the old-fashioned method of political thumb-screws, the whips have organised a charm offensive to subdue the threatened Tory rebellion in tonight's vote.

'It's a completely new game,' one Tory rebel said. 'I've just come from a meeting with Michael Heseltine and I can have more meetings if I want them.'

The President of the Board of Trade has spent the last four days trying to limit the rebellion by offering a private chat with individual rebel backbench MPs.

'My whip telephoned me and said did I want to speak to Michael Heseltine? I said 'fine', so he rang me up and we discussed my problems over the pit closures,' another of those who had threatened to rebel said.

Since telling his whip he may vote against the Government tonight, Spencer Batiste, Tory MP for Elmet, has had two meetings with Mr Heseltine and a separate meeting with Tim Eggar, the Energy Minister. He emerged suitably impressed yesterday from his second meeting with the President of the Board of Trade.

'Michael dealt with the three points I raised with him. He has satisfied me on two of them. On the third, he made a call to check out some information. I think he showed he was listening to the concerns we raised,' Mr Batiste, who is likely to vote with the Government tonight, said.

Elizabeth Peacock, the Tory MP for Batley and Spen, who is determined to vote against the Government, was also telephoned by Mr Heseltine at the weekend. She said she did not feel that Mr Heseltine had his heart in the policy he was proposing.

Mrs Peacock is likely to be punished by losing her position as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Nick Scott, the Minister of State for Social Security.

The PPS's job is unpaid, and is the lowest rung on the ministerial ladder, with no promise of further promotion, but it is a job which is dangled before backbench MPs as a reward for good behaviour.

But what the whips can give, they can take away. Richard Ryder, the Chief Whip, is also known as the 'patronage secretary'.

Other 'carrots' include the offer of a better desk - Sydney Chapman is the accommodation whip - and many MPs have to settle for a telephone and a shared desk; foreign trips - 'how would you like to be on an inter-parliamentary group to deliver a clock to Fiji, old boy?'; a place on select committees; and the prospect of promotion up the ministerial 'greasy pole'.

'Sticks' include the threat of no promotion, poor accommodation, service on a time-consuming and boring Private Bill - 'we could always put you on the Scunthorpe sewage bill . . . '; and the failure to find a congenial 'pair' with a Labour MP, allowing time off from Parliament - Greg Knight is the pairing whip. The ultimate weapon, the removal of the whip, is not an option because it would reduce the majority.

David Davis, a former troubleshooter with Tate and Lyle, the sugar company, is regarded as the whips' enforcer. He left some of the Tory 'new boys' frightened that they could kiss goodbye to promotion after they had signed a rebellious Commons motion shortly after the election.

'He was very direct and pretty rude,' one Tory MP said. 'This time, they are taking a much softer line. My whip has phoned me and asked how I feel about the mines. That was it.'