crossbench
Parliament's uncommitted seats
Crossbench refers to seats in a parliament—particularly the British House of Lords—occupied by members who belong to neither the government nor the official opposition.
Crossbenchers are independents, not aligned with any party.
The term derives from their physical position, sitting across from (perpendicular to) the two main benches facing each other.
The crossbench peers voted against the bill.
Free from external control
- nonalignedNot allied with superpowers
- unaffiliatedNot formally connected
- uncommittedNot bound to anything
- swingSuspended recreational seat
maverick · neutral · apolitical · free-agent · outsider · unattached · wildcard · unwhipped
National legislative assembly
- legislatureLawmaking governmental branch
- chamberEnclosed room or cavity
- backbenchOrdinary legislators' seats
- frontbenchSenior legislators' seating area
opposition · government · seat · peer · lord · senator · assembly · Westminster
Close, careful examination
- reviewCritical written assessment
- amendmentChange to official text
- debateFormal argument on issues
- committeeAppointed group for duties
inquiry · hearing · consultation · legislation · policy · bill · motion · proposition
Contest settling stalemate
- kingmakerPolitical influence wielder
- pivotalVitally important, deciding
- decisiveQuick to conclude
- equilibriumState of balance
leverage · dealmaker · power-broker · middle-ground · buffer · median
independent
Free from external control
- nonalignedNot allied with superpowers
- unaffiliatedNot formally connected
- uncommittedNot bound to anything
swing · maverick · neutral · apolitical · free-agent · outsider · unattached · wildcard · unwhipped · self-determining
parliament
National legislative assembly
- legislatureLawmaking governmental branch
- chamberEnclosed room or cavity
- backbenchOrdinary legislators' seats
frontbench · opposition · government · seat · peer · lord · senator · assembly · Westminster · caucus
scrutiny
Close, careful examination
committee · inquiry · hearing · consultation · legislation · policy · bill · motion · proposition · filibuster
tie-breaker
Contest settling stalemate
equilibrium · leverage · dealmaker · power-broker · middle-ground · buffer · median
- UK PoliticsHouse of Commons, House of Lords, MP, Tory, Downing Street
- parliamentparliament, bills, votes, vote, debate
- parliament seatinghemicycle, tiered seating, dispatch box, assigned seats, chamber
- legislaturesparliament, legislature, senate, House of Commons, Senate
crossbenchfrontbench
Senior legislators' seating area
partisan · party loyalist · backbench · whipped · party member