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Backbench (backbenchers)

Selected letter B

Backbenchers are MPs or members of the House of Lords that are neither government ministers nor opposition Shadow spokespeople . They are so called because, in the Chamber, they sit in the rows of benches behind their parties' spokespeople who are known as frontbenchers.

In the Commons, the Backbench Business Committee chooses the subjects that are debated in the time set aside for topics raised by backbench MPs.

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