(in the House of Lords and some other legislatures) a bench occupied by members who are independent of any political party.
（上议院的）中立议员席
as modifiera cross-bench political outlook
Example sentencesExamples
In the Lords yesterday, cross-bench Baroness Masham of Ilton challenged ministers over Monday's Yorkshire Post report.
‘Be clear what is at stake here’ says the cross bench peer.
The cross-bench peer had tabled a written question before Parliament was dissolved for the election after one of his constituents raised concerns.
The fact that government used the guillotine during the committee stage certainly did not contribute to any intelligent cross-bench discussion.
Only a small cabal of cross-bench MPs made the decision.
Last week Boyd was named among those being elevated to the House of Lords, where he will sit as a cross-bench member, despite his Labour affiliations.
Derivatives
cross-bencher
nounˈkrɒsˌbɛn(t)ʃə
Behind the debate lies a campaign by Lord Joffe, a cross-bencher, to make it possible for terminally ill patients to ask for medical help in ending their lives.
Example sentencesExamples
He had been encouraged by the Lords' reaction and by the number of Labour peers and cross-benchers who had spoken in favour of legislation before a ban.
Although the peerage is granted at the Prime Minister's request, it is non-party political, and Bishop Hope is expected to sit as a cross-bencher in the House of Lords.
Party groupings, the cross-benchers and individual members will be able to bid for the use of these rooms for official parliamentary or charity events.
Nearly half of the peers took the Conservative whip and around 30 per cent were cross-benchers.