Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Of or pertaining to the crossbenches in the UK houses of parliament.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun any of the seats in the House of Commons used by members who do not vote regularly with either the government or the Opposition

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From cross-bench

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Examples

  • The crossbench peer and Cambridge philosophy professor Onora O'Neill brings what one panellist called her "terrifying but brilliant" brain to bear on problems including freedom of speech, euthanasia and stem-cell research.

    Onora O'Neill | Top 100 women 2011

  • Continuing opposition to the NHS reforms will surface both at the conference and, crucially, in the House of Lords, where the legislation faces a mauling by a combination of Lib Dem, Labour and crossbench peers.

    The Lib Dems need to be more than just the people who say no | Andrew Rawnsley 2011

  • Lib Dem peers are planning a mutiny when the bill is scrutinised in the House of Lords, and are said to have support from crossbench as well as Labour peers.

    War breaks out in Downing Street 2011

  • Peers voted in favour of an amendment, tabled by the crossbench peer Lord Pannick, that would allow constituencies to be varied in size by 7.5% in "exceptional circumstances" to be determined by the Boundary Commission.

    Nick Clegg cancels South America trip for constituencies vote 2011

  • Lord Bichard, the crossbench peer who chaired the Soham inquiry, has joined Ten Group as an adviser, initially on developing a service for children's services professionals.

    Society daily 02.11.10 Patrick Butler 2010

  • The study, led by Professor Haleh Afshar, who is a member of the commission and a crossbench peer, finds:

    Gay men and lesbians are putting their health at risk by abusing drugs 2010

  • Bear this in mind when you think of the estimated 3,600 new offences created by the Government in Britain since 1997, of which at least 1,036 can result in a prison sentence according to an official answer given to Baroness Stern, a crossbench peer and former General Secretary of Penal Reform International.

    Today's Truth The Orator 2009

  • The government has a majority in Australia's lower house of representatives, but needs the support of either the main opposition Liberal-National coalition or all seven crossbench senators, including the environmentalist Greens, Family First Senator Steve Fielding, and Mr. Xenophon, to pass any new laws.

    Australia's Senate Approves Stimulus Package 2009

  • Bear this in mind when you think of the estimated 3,600 new offences created by the Government in Britain since 1997, of which at least 1,036 can result in a prison sentence according to an official answer given to Baroness Stern, a crossbench peer and former General Secretary of Penal Reform International.

    Archive 2009-01-01 The Orator 2009

  • On the one hand we have apparent easing of tensions between the two men at the top, and on the other we have a peer admittedly crossbench, who was Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service who holds his position through Blair's patronage.

    Archive 2007-03-01 2007

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