This chapter provides essential context to the role of the Heath Government’s Chief Whip, Francis Pym, and his European whipping operation. It places Pym’s tenure in historical perspective by considering the reputations, record and resources of his postwar predecessors. The initial section highlights the political centrality of the Government Chief Whip, including the indispensable nature of their role and responsibilities by reference to Powell’s infamous ‘sewerage’ analogy and the relevant literature on whipping. The following sections focus on the experience of the seven Government Chief Whips who served in office between 1945 and 1970: how has history judged them in terms of their reputations and performance? How did whipping develop in the period 1945–70? What key resources did these Chief Whips possess, and what factors limited their power and influence? How did they respond to the challenges of party management, especially during an era of declining party discipline and increasing intra-party dissent during the 1960s? By examining the postwar Chief Whips, and the challenges they faced, it is possible to assess how the nature of whipping developed during this period. The chapter highlights the extent to which party management was in transition from more disciplinarian regimes to an increasingly liberal or tolerant approach. This shift was not without its problems or limitations: Chief Whips were faced with parties that were becoming less cohesive and disciplined, forcing them to develop and draw upon a range of more subtle and strategic managerial methods.