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

Both opponents and supporters of the bill say it will depend on a number of cross-bench peers who do not have a party allegiance.

From BBC • Sep. 11, 2025

“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

“This harms equal status of each Justice,” Mr. Denniston wrote on Twitter, “gives the CJ arbitrary power, diminishes cross-bench exchanges, promotes wool-gathering by lawyers, prizes order over depth, lets technology triumph, looks amateurish.”

From New York Times • May 18, 2020

Leif noticed two strangers, an old man who sat at Eric's side and a young woman on the cross-bench.

From Viking Tales by Lambdin, Victor Ralph