Westminster's Secret Service (1995)

Whips pride themselves on their secrecy and discretion. Reporter Michael Cockerell uncovers their shadowy world and reveals how they operate. How close to reality is the fictional Chief Whip Francis Urquhart, in the drama series House of Cards? Government Whips can make or break ministers and ensure they know all the secrets of the private lives of their fellow MPs. One Tory MP claims that the Whips are a gestapo, but another says they are democracy's unsung heroes - as necessary for Parliament as sewers are for civilisation.

Cast

Self
Michael Cockerell
Self
Rupert Allason
Self
T Tristan Garel-Jones
Self
W Will Howie
Self (Archive Footage)
Nigel Lawson
Self
D David Lightbown
Self (Archive Footage)
John Major
Self
G Gordon McMaster
Self
R Robert Mellish
Self
M Michael Neubert
Self
J Jon Owen Jones
Self
C Cecil Parkinson
Self
J Joe Ashton
Self
R Ray Powell
Self (Archive Footage)
John Prescott
Self
H Hugh Rossi
Self
E Edward Short
Self
Norman Tebbit
Self (Archive Footage)
Margaret Thatcher
Self
W William Whitelaw
Self (Archive Footage)
B Betty Boothroyd
Self (Archive Footage)
Dennis Skinner
Self
E Eric Clarke
Self
G Geoffrey Dickens
Self
Stephen Dorrell
Self
J Jim Dowd
Self
Iain Duncan Smith
Self
T Tim Fortescue
Self
D Derek Foster

Crew

Producer
A Alison Cahn
Producer
M Manisha Vadhia
Editor
A Anne Tyerman
Production Manager
K Kerry Dalton
Graphic Designer
P Patrick Bedeau
Mix Technician
C Cliff Jones
Sound
R Roger Stamp
Camera Operator
R Ray Sieman
Editor
P Phil Reynolds
Researcher
R Rebecca Hickie