cross-bench

noun

1. usually plural a seat in Parliament occupied by a neutral or independent member

Derived Forms

• ˈcross-ˌbencher, noun

Example Sentences

But a government source argued amendments from cross-bench, or independent, peers in the House of Lords meant there was not enough time to pass the legislation.

From BBC

“This is about people having a fundamental objection to a piece of government legislation,” said Simon McDonald, a former head of the British diplomatic service who became a cross-bench, or nonpartisan, member of the House of Lords, where he is known as Baron McDonald of Salford, in 2021.

From New York Times

Lord Evans, a non-party cross-bench peer, said he did not think it would be right to change the law to make lying in Parliament a criminal offence as "ultimately people have to make their judgement at the ballot box".

From BBC

“The oddity is having bishops in the lords at all,” said Peter Ricketts, a retired British diplomat who is a cross-bench member of the House of Lords, meaning that he does not represent a party.

From New York Times

Most polls suggest Labor will win by a narrow margin, but political analysts say a hung parliament is possible, meaning Labor might have to negotiate with cross-bench members who support mandatory cashless machines.

From Reuters