cross-bench

British  

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

• cross-bencher
  noun

Example Sentences

He stood down as an MP in 1992 and was ennobled as a cross-bench peer in the same year, despite his party's opposition to the Lords at the time.

From BBC • Feb. 7, 2025

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 • May 23, 2024

“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 • May 11, 2023

The new cross-bench politicians want to make their first speeches to parliament before speaking on the climate change bill, which may delay its introduction, a Greens official said.

From Reuters • Jul. 25, 2022

Hallgerda sat upon the cross-bench on the dais, and behaved well.

From The story of Burnt Njal From the Icelandic of the Njals Saga by Dasent, George Webbe