Frontbencher vs. Backbencher

Frontbenchernoun

(politics) A Member of Parliament who sits on the front bench, and is typically part of the cabinet.

Frontbenchernoun

a member of the House of Commons of Great Britain who is a minister or an ex-minister.

Frontbenchernoun

a member of the House of Commons who is a minister or an ex-minister

Frontbencher

In many parliaments and other similar assemblies, seating is typically arranged in banks or rows, with each political party or caucus grouped together. The spokespeople for each group will often sit at the front of their group, and are then known as being on the frontbench (or front bench) and are described as frontbenchers.

Backbenchernoun

(politics) A Member of Parliament who does not have cabinet rank, and who therefore sits on one of the backbenches or in one of the back rows of the legislature.

Backbenchernoun

(education) A student who does not perform well, especially one who sits at the back of the classroom.

Backbenchernoun

(sports) A member of a team who does not usually play, but who is held in reserve.

Backbenchernoun

(by extension) Someone who does not play an active role in a process.

Backbenchernoun

a member of the House of Commons of Great Britain who is not a party leader.

Backbenchernoun

a member of the House of Commons who is not a party leader

Backbencher

In Westminster parliamentary systems, a backbencher is a member of parliament (MP) or a legislator who occupies no governmental office and is not a frontbench spokesperson in the Opposition, being instead simply a member of the .