backbencher
pronunciation
How to pronounce backbencher in British English:
UK [ˌbækˈbentʃə(r)]
How to pronounce backbencher in American English:
US [ˌbækˈbentʃər]
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- Noun:
- a member of the House of Commons who is not a party leader
Word Origin
- backbencher (n.)
- 1874 in the House of Commons sense, from back (adj.) + bench (n.); occupants of the rear seats being the least-prominent politicians.
Example
- 1. The prime minister give in to pressure from the backbencher .
- 2. David davis , for example , a leading conservative backbencher , has publicly challenged the proposal for not focusing on terrorists or criminals , but on " absolutely everybody . "
- 3. When still a backbencher , he already distinguished himself in the commons and was seen as a bright young man .
- 4. Simon hughes ( a left-wing liberal democrat ) ; david davis ( a spiky conservative backbencher ) ; the editor of the guardian ; even bob crow ( a neanderthal trade-union boss ) : each has a claim to be the real leader of the opposition to britain 's budget-slashing coalition government .