Topical one today, the Whips are in the news at the moment. The term originates from "Whipper-in" in Fox Hunting. His job is to keep the pack of hounds together. Analogous with what the party whips try to do in Parliament.
"They got right up in my face. They told me that if you think you're getting a single *** penny, forget it. If you think a minister is coming to your patch forget it. You're done."
Bit strong for a master of hounds but who knows what goes on in the echelons of power eh ?
Still got no idea why the current generation of youngsters refer to a car as a ‘whip’ ?