For years now I have watched BBC News, Sky News and other outlets and have heard the term back-bench MP banded around from time to time with no definitive definition. So today I decided to do a little research to find out the significance of the backbenchers.

First of all exactly what is a back-bench MP (Member of Parliament)? A back-bench MP is one who holds no governmental office e.g. secretary of transport, defence, state etc. Their primary job is to serve the interest of their constituent, the people who elected them, back bench MP’s devote much of their time to constituency work earning themselves a reputation for hard work and their time.

Many back-benchers specialise in certain areas of policy and often voice their expertise in various media outlets, and they use their specific knowledge to serve on parliamentary committees.

A Back-bench MP generally doesn’t wield much influence over government policy. On the other hand back-bench MP’s for the most part form the majority of parliament so in some cases they can invoke and exercise a considerable amount of power, especially in cases of unpopular policies or a divided government.