Forget the Whip – Wendy Chamberlain Brings a Shinty Stick to Keep Westminster in Line!

Wendy Chamberlain MP, the Liberal Democrat Chief Whip, is proudly displaying a silver-mounted shinty caman in her Westminster office, symbolising her personal connection to the historic Scottish sport. As the first female board member of the Camanachd Association, she served from 2017 to 2019, promoting the sport’s development during that time.

Shinty, a sport with deep roots across Scottish communities, holds personal significance for Wendy. The silver-topped caman, borrowed from her father, takes pride of place just outside the Commons Chamber. “Party whips are responsible for party discipline,” Wendy says, “but rather than using a whip, I’ve borrowed my father’s silver-topped shinty caman for display. As a former CA Board Director, I’ll continue to support shinty as much as possible.”

Wendy has previously raised shinty in the House of Commons, including discussions surrounding its coverage by the BBC. Elected in 2019, she has always kept a shinty stick close, even hanging her son’s stick in the Members’ Cloakroom. During the Covid pandemic, she showcased her pride by wearing an Aberdour Shinty Club face mask in Parliament.

Her long-standing involvement in shinty, combined with her work as an MP, highlights Wendy Chamberlain’s dedication to preserving and promoting Scottish culture while representing her constituents in Westminster.

Shinty may not be a common sight in Westminster, but with Wendy’s caman on display, the sport has earned a prominent place in the corridors of power.