frontbenchers
Senior parliamentary figures
Frontbenchers are members of a parliament who sit on the front benches—the senior politicians who hold government or shadow cabinet positions.
In the British system, frontbenchers face each other across the chamber, with government ministers on one side and opposition leaders on the other: The frontbenchers clashed during Prime Minister's Questions.
The term contrasts with backbenchers, who hold no ministerial or shadow positions.
Ordinary members of parliament
- ministersReligious leaders or officials
- cabinetEnclosed storage furniture
- shadow cabinetOpposition's parallel leadership team
- whipsFlexible striking instruments
opposition · government · speaker · question time · debates · legislation · committees · bills
Having considerable effect
- high-profileAttracting significant attention
- leadingGuiding or pacing type
- visibleAble to be seen
- seniorHigher in rank
prominent · distinguished · foremost · preeminent · renowned · respected · notable · esteemed
backbenchers
Ordinary members of parliament
- ministersReligious leaders or officials
- cabinetEnclosed storage furniture
- shadow cabinetOpposition's parallel leadership team
whips · opposition · government · speaker · question time · debates · legislation · committees · bills · amendments
influential
Having considerable effect
- high-profileAttracting significant attention
- leadingGuiding or pacing type
- visibleAble to be seen
senior · prominent · distinguished · foremost · preeminent · renowned · respected · notable · esteemed · authoritative
- politicianspoliticians, Joe Biden, congressman, Nancy Pelosi, senator
- British PoliticsHouse of Commons, Westminster, Whigs, Tories, Commons
- British GovernmentHouse of Commons, House of Lords, Westminster, Whitehall, Downing Street
- parliamentparliament, bills, votes, vote, debate
- ToriesConservative Party, Tory, Toryism, Thatcherism, Thatcherites
- Political Groupsfaction, Republican Party, caucus, Democratic Party, wing
frontbenchersbackbenchers
Ordinary members of parliament
back bench · rank and file · private members · crossbenchers · foot soldiers