Backbencher

<h2 id="by-country">By country</h2>

<h3>United Kingdom</h3>

<p>The most important backbench role is that of a constituency representative; constituents rely heavily on their MPs to represent them in parliament and make sure their concerns are heard, whether or not they voted for the MP representing them. Constituents may email and meet their MPs, raising the issues and concerns they want the government to hear.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> Backbenchers have an important opportunity to raise their constituents concerns directly to the <a href="/facts/Prime_Minister_of_the_United_Kingdom/Uf40UlBb">prime minister</a> in <a href="/facts/Prime_Minister%27s_Questions/Uql2nmQW">Prime Minister's Questions</a>. 
</p><p>Backbenchers also have an unofficial agenda-setting power, with Opposition Day debates, <a href="/facts/Private_Members%27_Bills_in_the_Parliament_of_the_United_Kingdom/a5WmAzee">private member's bills</a>, and <a href="/facts/Prime_Minister%27s_Questions/Uql2nmQW">Prime Minister's Questions</a> available to place items on the parliamentary agenda which are awkward for the government. The <a href="/facts/Wright_Committee/B6ke8yus">Wright Committee</a> reforms introduced in the UK provided backbenchers with much more power in committees, giving Parliament greater control of its agenda, and increasing backbench membership in committees vastly.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a>
</p><p>Additionally, the <a href="/facts/Backbench_Business_Committee/dWIFuI8P">Commons Backbench Business Committee</a> was created in 2010 with cross-party support. It debates matters unlikely to be debated in government time, with each decision voted upon formally. By the end of 2010 <a href="/facts/Cameron%E2%80%93Clegg_coalition/vcuB5P3c">coalition government</a> it had undergone 300 debates, ranging from prisoner voting rights to the <a href="/facts/Hillsborough_disaster/MafjT0cl">Hillsborough disaster</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> Furthermore, they have influence as discussed above when they are a member of a committee, these committees provide a perfect opportunity for backbenchers to have their voices heard in the legislative process. It usually proves difficult for backbenchers to be involved and have direct input in the legislative process when they are not involved in these activities.
</p>
<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Crossbencher/T58YCqSo">Crossbencher</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/House_of_Commons_of_the_United_Kingdom/IyyztqLo">House of Commons of the United Kingdom</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>

Look up <i>backbencher</i> in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

<ul><li><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/a-z_of_parliament/a-b/81898.stm">The BBC's definition of 'backbencher'</a></li>
<li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100428080846/http://www.governingdynamo.com/blog/2009/6/22/the-back-bench-mp.html">Article/definition of 'backbencher'</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>"Backbench", Merriam-Webster Dictionary; accessed 30 September 2013. <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backbench" target="_blank">http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backbench</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:2"><p>"UK Politics | Backbencher". BBC NEWS. 6 August 2008. Retrieved 26 November 2018. <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/a-b/81898.stm" target="_blank">http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/a-b/81898.stm</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:3"><p>Searing, Donald (July 1995). "Backbench and Leadership Roles in The House of Commons". Parliamentary Affairs. 48 (3): 418–437. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.pa.a052543 – via Oxford Academic. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Doi_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:4"><p>Egreteau, Renaud (4 June 2021). "A Disciplined Dissident: Aung San Suu Kyi as Opposition Backbencher (2012-2016)". Parliamentary Affairs. 76: 232–249. doi:10.1093/pa/gsab037. ISSN 0031-2290. <a href="https://academic.oup.com/pa/advance-article/doi/10.1093/pa/gsab037/6292234" target="_blank">https://academic.oup.com/pa/advance-article/doi/10.1093/pa/gsab037/6292234</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:5"><p>"Minnesota Progressive Project". Archived from the original on 9 January 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2010. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100109010603/http://www.mnprogressiveproject.com/diary/4909/michele-bachmann-stop-gay-marriage-again-we-really-mean-it-this-time" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20100109010603/http://www.mnprogressiveproject.com/diary/4909/michele-bachmann-stop-gay-marriage-again-we-really-mean-it-this-time</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:6"><p>Radice, Lisanne (1990). Member of Parliament: The Job of a Backbencher. Basingstoke : Macmillan. pp. 141–154. ISBN 978-0333491218. <a href="978-0333491218" target="_blank">978-0333491218</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:7"><p>Heffernan, Richard; Hay, Colin; Russell, Meg; Cowley, Philip (2016). Developments in British Politics 10. doi:10.1057/978-1-137-49475-7. ISBN 978-1-137-49473-3. <a href="978-1-137-49473-3" target="_blank">978-1-137-49473-3</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:8"><p>Russell, Meg (2010). Developments In British Politics. London: Palgrave. pp. 110–111. ISBN 9781137494740. <a href="9781137494740" target="_blank">9781137494740</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
</ol>

Backbencher open-in-new

Backbencher