He did not build alliances within the country that might have reinforced his power base and he shied away from travelling abroad to whip up potential support in the West.

BBC: France welcomes Afghan rebel

Plaid's Dafydd Elis Thomas is staying away, defying his party's three line whip, sharing "full and frank exchanges" with his group and expecting the sanctions and the trouble that has been a long time coming.

BBC: 'No conniving' and 'no conspiracy'

On that occasion, the Irishman seemed to throw his whip at the horse in frustration as it got to its feet and galloped away.

BBC: SPORT | Other Sport... | Horse Racing | Probe into jockey 'butt' on horse

The prime minister said Ms Dorries had not told him in advance of her participation in the show and he backed Chief Whip Sir George Young's decision to suspend the MP while she is away.

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Andrew Mitchell, the Tory chief whip under a cloud after his clash with police in Downing Street, will stay away - even though the conference is just up the road from his constituency.

BBC: UK Politics