Backbencher

Backbencher was a political rank in the United Kingdom.

Heathcliffe Bower was a Conservative Party backbencher during Margaret Thatcher's time in office. (PROSE: The Assassin's Story ^[+]Loading...["The Assassin's Story (short story)"]) Charles Grover was a junior backbencher during the Cold War. (TV: Invasion of the Dinosaurs ^[+]Loading...["Invasion of the Dinosaurs (TV story)"])

MP Harriet Jones, of Flydale North, described herself as a "lifelong" backbencher. (TV: Aliens of London ^[+]Loading...["Aliens of London (TV story)"])

When Clyde Langer showed a copy of the Ealing Echo to the Automatons so they could learn English, "Labour backbencher" was among the terms recited by them as they scanned the newspaper and learned the language almost instantly. (TV: The Empty Planet ^[+]Loading...["The Empty Planet (TV story)"])

Behind the scenes

In the real world, the term "backbencher" refers to a member of parliament who does not hold any ministerial position, and therefore sits behind the frontbench.