The party which is in government sits on the right. The two red lines on the floor must not be crossed, to prevent either side attacking the other during a debate. MPs in Britain do not normally use physical violence, but the red lines are a historical tradition; in the past, MPs used to carry swords into the Chamber and the distance between the two lines is too wide for a sword fight! The most important MPs sit on the front benches and are therefore called frontbenchers. Younger and less experienced MPs sit on the back benches and are known as backbenchers. The ministers of the Government sit on the front bench to the right. whilst the Opposition frontbenchers sit on the left. When the Prime Minister or any other leading politician makes a speech, they stand at the table in the centre, below the Speaker's chair. These seating arrangements have existed for hundreds of years. Biggest Cities
Usually peeps like this sit in the opposition furthest from the Speaker. || There are no tables for the MPs. They also have no obvious place to address each other from. They can walk in and out during the debates. There are no names on the benches so the MPs sit down just wherever they find the room. The Atmosphere of Parliament Fairly informal atmosphere. People don't have their own exact place/territory so they feel like they must co-operate. Although they have divided themselves into frontbenchers (leading members of the government and opposition) and the backbenchers (people who don't own a meaningful post). MPs have nowhere to address each other from, they have nowhere to put their notes so that means that they speak in a very conversational tone and not for a very long time. The organization of the Parliament is historic because in the history the House of Commons met in a church and now the Parliament looks like one. When the MPs address
Members of Parliament. During debates they keep order and call MPs to speak. The Speaker is the chief officer and highest authority of the House of Commons and must remain politically impartial at all times. The Speaker also represents the Commons to the monarch, the Lords and other authorities and chairs the House of Commons Commission. The current Speaker is John Bercow, MP for Buckingham. Frontbenchers In many parliaments and other similar assemblies, seating is typically arranged in banks or rows, with each political party or caucus grouped together. The spokespeople for each group will often sit at the front of their group, and are then known as being on the frontbench (or front bench) and are described as frontbenchers. Those sitting behind them are known as backbenchers. Independent and minority parties sit to the side, and are referred to as crossbenchers.