For other meanings, see Backbench

A backbencher is a Member of Parliament (MP) or a legislator who does not hold governmental office and is not a Front Bench spokesperson in the Opposition. A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a Parliament. A minister or a secretary is a Politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional Government. In many Parliaments and other similar assemblies seating is typically arranged in banks or rows with each Political party or Caucus grouped together A backbencher may be a new parliamentary member yet to receive high office, a senior figure dropped from government, or someone who for whatever reason is not chosen to sit either in the ministry or the opposition Shadow Ministry. The Shadow Cabinet (also called the Shadow Front Bench) is a senior group of opposition spokespeople in the Westminster system of government who together under the

In most parliamentary systems, backbenchers individually do not have much power to influence government policy. However, they are important in providing services to their constituents and in relaying the opinions of their constituents. In addition, since backbenchers generally form the vast majority of the number of MPs, collectively they can sometimes exercise considerable power especially in cases where the policies of the government are unpopular or when a governing party is internally split. A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a Parliament.

See also

• Jim Walding, a backbencher who defeated his own party. Derek James "Jim" Walding ( May 9 1937 – April 23 2007) was a politician in Manitoba, Canada.

External links

• The BBC's definition of 'backbencher'

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