Seb Whale
@sebwhale.bsky.social
The Usual Channels, my book on the whips, available now.
Freelance journalist and author. Ex POLITICO and The House magazine. John Bercow biographer. Em: sebastianwhale@gmail.com
Freelance journalist and author. Ex POLITICO and The House magazine. John Bercow biographer. Em: sebastianwhale@gmail.com
Absolute ripper of a column from @patrickmaguire.bsky.social this morning
'Starmer’s hollowness is clear for all to see. The PM’s distaste for politics means he has outsourced every significant decision and now finds he’s left to pay the bill'
Keir Starmer’s hollowness is clear for all to see
Keir Starmer’s hollowness is clear for all to see
www.thetimes.com
February 6, 2026 at 8:49 AM
Absolute ripper of a column from @patrickmaguire.bsky.social this morning
The Defectors
Is one side’s headache about to become another party’s migraine?
Latest Usual Channels substack is out now.
open.substack.com/pub/theusual...
Is one side’s headache about to become another party’s migraine?
Latest Usual Channels substack is out now.
open.substack.com/pub/theusual...
The Defectors
Jumping ship.
open.substack.com
January 22, 2026 at 7:27 AM
The Defectors
Is one side’s headache about to become another party’s migraine?
Latest Usual Channels substack is out now.
open.substack.com/pub/theusual...
Is one side’s headache about to become another party’s migraine?
Latest Usual Channels substack is out now.
open.substack.com/pub/theusual...
I went to one wedding whether the father of the bride went through in granular detail the highlights of each of his daughter's 27 years
This is worse #Trump
This is worse #Trump
It's like the worst father of the bride speech #Trump
January 21, 2026 at 2:35 PM
I went to one wedding whether the father of the bride went through in granular detail the highlights of each of his daughter's 27 years
This is worse #Trump
This is worse #Trump
Sometimes I wish the internet didn't exist and then Brooklyn Beckham posts his stories and everything makes sense again
January 21, 2026 at 10:21 AM
Sometimes I wish the internet didn't exist and then Brooklyn Beckham posts his stories and everything makes sense again
19.01: Check for reviews. Glowing five-star. Wonderful! Am brilliant writer.
19.14: Message from friend. I left you a review on GoodReads xx hope it helps! (starting this weekend)
open.substack.com/pub/whalemig...
19.14: Message from friend. I left you a review on GoodReads xx hope it helps! (starting this weekend)
open.substack.com/pub/whalemig...
A Day In The Life of A Writer
In case you wanted to know.
open.substack.com
January 13, 2026 at 8:10 AM
19.01: Check for reviews. Glowing five-star. Wonderful! Am brilliant writer.
19.14: Message from friend. I left you a review on GoodReads xx hope it helps! (starting this weekend)
open.substack.com/pub/whalemig...
19.14: Message from friend. I left you a review on GoodReads xx hope it helps! (starting this weekend)
open.substack.com/pub/whalemig...
This week’s whipping anecdote is the one about the American invasion
Out now: open.substack.com/pub/theusual...
Out now: open.substack.com/pub/theusual...
January 8, 2026 at 9:07 AM
This week’s whipping anecdote is the one about the American invasion
Out now: open.substack.com/pub/theusual...
Out now: open.substack.com/pub/theusual...
Thanks to my writers' group in Seville, which recently released a collection of some of our works, I achieved a goal for 2025 of getting a piece of fiction published. In this case, it's a short story called Breakfast at El Pica:
whalemigration.substack.com/p/a-short-st...
whalemigration.substack.com/p/a-short-st...
A Short Story
Breakfast At El Pica.
whalemigration.substack.com
January 7, 2026 at 10:11 AM
Thanks to my writers' group in Seville, which recently released a collection of some of our works, I achieved a goal for 2025 of getting a piece of fiction published. In this case, it's a short story called Breakfast at El Pica:
whalemigration.substack.com/p/a-short-st...
whalemigration.substack.com/p/a-short-st...
The Christmas Whip
A little ditty on David Lightbown, the marauding giant of a Tory whip dressed as Father Christmas.
theusualchannels.substack.com/p/the-christ...
A little ditty on David Lightbown, the marauding giant of a Tory whip dressed as Father Christmas.
theusualchannels.substack.com/p/the-christ...
The Christmas Whip
Some festive whipping cheer.
theusualchannels.substack.com
December 18, 2025 at 9:26 AM
The Christmas Whip
A little ditty on David Lightbown, the marauding giant of a Tory whip dressed as Father Christmas.
theusualchannels.substack.com/p/the-christ...
A little ditty on David Lightbown, the marauding giant of a Tory whip dressed as Father Christmas.
theusualchannels.substack.com/p/the-christ...
Wish I had the same level of irony as the person who came up with the spelling of the word phonetic
December 17, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Wish I had the same level of irony as the person who came up with the spelling of the word phonetic
‘I looked at my phone and rallied myself. Enough. Fuck this thing and its control on my life, on my attention, on my well-being. I picked up a book and sank into the sofa.’
I Read 100 Books in 2025. This is What I Learnt
open.substack.com/pub/whalemig...
I Read 100 Books in 2025. This is What I Learnt
open.substack.com/pub/whalemig...
I Read 100 Books in 2025. This is What I Learnt.
Falling back in love with a neglected pastime.
open.substack.com
December 16, 2025 at 8:22 AM
‘I looked at my phone and rallied myself. Enough. Fuck this thing and its control on my life, on my attention, on my well-being. I picked up a book and sank into the sofa.’
I Read 100 Books in 2025. This is What I Learnt
open.substack.com/pub/whalemig...
I Read 100 Books in 2025. This is What I Learnt
open.substack.com/pub/whalemig...
Keir Starmer and I need to get real
Today you have to put yourself out there and make your case. Again and again and again. But the big question remains: what is it that you want to say?
open.substack.com/pub/theusual...
Today you have to put yourself out there and make your case. Again and again and again. But the big question remains: what is it that you want to say?
open.substack.com/pub/theusual...
Keir Starmer and I Need to Get Real
And deal with the world as it really is.
open.substack.com
December 11, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Keir Starmer and I need to get real
Today you have to put yourself out there and make your case. Again and again and again. But the big question remains: what is it that you want to say?
open.substack.com/pub/theusual...
Today you have to put yourself out there and make your case. Again and again and again. But the big question remains: what is it that you want to say?
open.substack.com/pub/theusual...
So funny to me the idea that Liz Truss’ undoing was just the mini-budget and not that she was obviously unsuited to the role of prime minister by basically every conceivable metric
December 4, 2025 at 6:42 PM
So funny to me the idea that Liz Truss’ undoing was just the mini-budget and not that she was obviously unsuited to the role of prime minister by basically every conceivable metric
Inspired by @danbloom1.bsky.social’s brilliant piece on the Tories’ improved output in opposition, I’ve written about the ‘Fuck-Up Squad’, the Tory committee that wreaked havoc against the Jim Callaghan government in the late 70s.
Is the old band back together?
open.substack.com/pub/theusual...
Is the old band back together?
open.substack.com/pub/theusual...
The New Tory Fuck-Up Squad
Fun and frolics in opposition.
open.substack.com
November 27, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Inspired by @danbloom1.bsky.social’s brilliant piece on the Tories’ improved output in opposition, I’ve written about the ‘Fuck-Up Squad’, the Tory committee that wreaked havoc against the Jim Callaghan government in the late 70s.
Is the old band back together?
open.substack.com/pub/theusual...
Is the old band back together?
open.substack.com/pub/theusual...
Bested by an ex-Chief Whip
An interview that went wrong.
This week’s The Usual Channels Substack is out now!
open.substack.com/pub/theusual...
An interview that went wrong.
This week’s The Usual Channels Substack is out now!
open.substack.com/pub/theusual...
Bested by an ex-Chief Whip
When Gavin Williamson got the better of me.
open.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Bested by an ex-Chief Whip
An interview that went wrong.
This week’s The Usual Channels Substack is out now!
open.substack.com/pub/theusual...
An interview that went wrong.
This week’s The Usual Channels Substack is out now!
open.substack.com/pub/theusual...
‘The book is a huge hit for any Westminster political junkie, and what makes it work is the feast of political anecdotes that pepper the 500-plus pages.’
So thrilled with Roger Alton’s review of The Usual Channels in @dailymail.co.uk
www.dailymail.co.uk/home/books/a...
So thrilled with Roger Alton’s review of The Usual Channels in @dailymail.co.uk
www.dailymail.co.uk/home/books/a...
How Whips work in the Westminster shadows
They're masters of the dark political arts
who know the peccadilloes of every MP.
Now, a new book reveals how the Whips
of Westminster get what they want...
www.dailymail.co.uk
November 15, 2025 at 8:31 AM
‘The book is a huge hit for any Westminster political junkie, and what makes it work is the feast of political anecdotes that pepper the 500-plus pages.’
So thrilled with Roger Alton’s review of The Usual Channels in @dailymail.co.uk
www.dailymail.co.uk/home/books/a...
So thrilled with Roger Alton’s review of The Usual Channels in @dailymail.co.uk
www.dailymail.co.uk/home/books/a...
‘In my time, the Tories were always better organised, their whipping arrangements more sophisticated, and their whole practice of dealing with the whips’ office was better.’
A piece on Labour’s whipping inferiority complex - and why a new look whips’ office will be up against it
A piece on Labour’s whipping inferiority complex - and why a new look whips’ office will be up against it
Labour's Inferiority Complex
And why Johnny reminds me of Jacqui.
open.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:32 PM
‘In my time, the Tories were always better organised, their whipping arrangements more sophisticated, and their whole practice of dealing with the whips’ office was better.’
A piece on Labour’s whipping inferiority complex - and why a new look whips’ office will be up against it
A piece on Labour’s whipping inferiority complex - and why a new look whips’ office will be up against it
Blair didn’t remove the whip from Corbyn et al. Starmer did.
But who was right?
All this and more in The Usual Channels Substack
But who was right?
All this and more in The Usual Channels Substack
To Strip or Not to Strip?
That is the whipping question.
theusualchannels.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Blair didn’t remove the whip from Corbyn et al. Starmer did.
But who was right?
All this and more in The Usual Channels Substack
But who was right?
All this and more in The Usual Channels Substack
Cracking the Code: How I took on the near impenetrable world of the whips’ office.
The first article of The Usual Channels Substack is now live, ft words from my favourite (anonymous) ex-Chief Whip and pen pal
theusualchannels.substack.com/p/cracking-t...
The first article of The Usual Channels Substack is now live, ft words from my favourite (anonymous) ex-Chief Whip and pen pal
theusualchannels.substack.com/p/cracking-t...
October 30, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Cracking the Code: How I took on the near impenetrable world of the whips’ office.
The first article of The Usual Channels Substack is now live, ft words from my favourite (anonymous) ex-Chief Whip and pen pal
theusualchannels.substack.com/p/cracking-t...
The first article of The Usual Channels Substack is now live, ft words from my favourite (anonymous) ex-Chief Whip and pen pal
theusualchannels.substack.com/p/cracking-t...
Reposted by Seb Whale
"Whale interviewed a large number of whips and ex-whips, enabling him to write an accurate and sympathetic account"
📚 Lord George Young reviews @sebwhale.bsky.social 'The Usual Channels: Inside the Mysterious World of Political Whips' | @bitebackpublishing.bsky.social
bit.ly/431Mrq7
📚 Lord George Young reviews @sebwhale.bsky.social 'The Usual Channels: Inside the Mysterious World of Political Whips' | @bitebackpublishing.bsky.social
bit.ly/431Mrq7
'A serious piece of work': Lord Young reviews 'The Usual Channels'
Sebastian Whale has produced a well researched and accurate account of how the whips’ office works
bit.ly
October 6, 2025 at 11:49 AM
"Whale interviewed a large number of whips and ex-whips, enabling him to write an accurate and sympathetic account"
📚 Lord George Young reviews @sebwhale.bsky.social 'The Usual Channels: Inside the Mysterious World of Political Whips' | @bitebackpublishing.bsky.social
bit.ly/431Mrq7
📚 Lord George Young reviews @sebwhale.bsky.social 'The Usual Channels: Inside the Mysterious World of Political Whips' | @bitebackpublishing.bsky.social
bit.ly/431Mrq7
Reposted by Seb Whale
LATEST PODCAST | What are the Usual Channels? A short history of Westminster whipping
We talk to @sebwhale.bsky.social about his new book, pulling back the curtain on one of Westminster's most notorious elements: the Whips.
Listen below 🔽
buff.ly/phTKkve
We talk to @sebwhale.bsky.social about his new book, pulling back the curtain on one of Westminster's most notorious elements: the Whips.
Listen below 🔽
buff.ly/phTKkve
What are the Usual Channels? A short history of Westminster whipping - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 108
In this episode, we talk to political journalist Seb Whale about his new book, The Usual Channels, which reveals the hidden world of Westminster’s whips. Seb charts how party discipline has evolved –…
buff.ly
September 26, 2025 at 9:48 AM
LATEST PODCAST | What are the Usual Channels? A short history of Westminster whipping
We talk to @sebwhale.bsky.social about his new book, pulling back the curtain on one of Westminster's most notorious elements: the Whips.
Listen below 🔽
buff.ly/phTKkve
We talk to @sebwhale.bsky.social about his new book, pulling back the curtain on one of Westminster's most notorious elements: the Whips.
Listen below 🔽
buff.ly/phTKkve
Reposted by Seb Whale
🌟“A magnificent achievement. Whale has delivered the authoritative book on the most mysterious pillar of Westminster’s power structure – the whips’ office. Packed with insight and colourful anecdotes from inside the Houses of Parliament, this is a political junkie’s dream.” Jack Blanchard
September 24, 2025 at 2:51 PM
🌟“A magnificent achievement. Whale has delivered the authoritative book on the most mysterious pillar of Westminster’s power structure – the whips’ office. Packed with insight and colourful anecdotes from inside the Houses of Parliament, this is a political junkie’s dream.” Jack Blanchard
Few better feelings!
A special moment shared with Jeremy Hughes, a close friend and illustrator extraordinaire, who designed the cover.
The Usual Channels is out on Thursday! tinyurl.com/yc2hdkar
A special moment shared with Jeremy Hughes, a close friend and illustrator extraordinaire, who designed the cover.
The Usual Channels is out on Thursday! tinyurl.com/yc2hdkar
September 23, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Few better feelings!
A special moment shared with Jeremy Hughes, a close friend and illustrator extraordinaire, who designed the cover.
The Usual Channels is out on Thursday! tinyurl.com/yc2hdkar
A special moment shared with Jeremy Hughes, a close friend and illustrator extraordinaire, who designed the cover.
The Usual Channels is out on Thursday! tinyurl.com/yc2hdkar
Reposted by Seb Whale
Really enjoyed this week's episode of The Rundown on the 'dark arts' of political whipping with @alaintolhurst.bsky.social @sebwhale.bsky.social & former Govt Chief Whip, Lord Harper. Straight onto the Reading List for #PIED2706 Week 2: Who's Who in Parliament open.spotify.com/episode/1zAe...
Unmasking the 'dark arts' of political whipping
open.spotify.com
September 19, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Really enjoyed this week's episode of The Rundown on the 'dark arts' of political whipping with @alaintolhurst.bsky.social @sebwhale.bsky.social & former Govt Chief Whip, Lord Harper. Straight onto the Reading List for #PIED2706 Week 2: Who's Who in Parliament open.spotify.com/episode/1zAe...
“They’re not going to destabilize the [UK-EU trade deal] just for a few stinky fishermen.”
And so it proved.
@politico.eu
And so it proved.
@politico.eu
Hook, line and sinker: How Brexit betrayed the UK fishing industry
Leaving the EU has cost British fishermen fish, money and jobs.
www.politico.eu
May 19, 2025 at 7:52 AM
“They’re not going to destabilize the [UK-EU trade deal] just for a few stinky fishermen.”
And so it proved.
@politico.eu
And so it proved.
@politico.eu