Black Front Benchers?

[Paulie Tandoori]

Was Suma Chakrabarti? Was/is he one?

Is a civil servant, not an MP.

 

[Relahni]

Can't be arsed to read this. Has anyone mentioned Baroness Amos?

yes

Baroness Scotland is Attorney General.

Next?

 

[Belushi]

A front bencher to me, is a cabinet member.

No, a Frontbencher is a member of the government, most members of the govenment arent Cabinet Ministers.

 

[untethered]

I know she is. Why are you telling me?

I edited out that she's leader of the Lords. She isn't any more.

There are other people reading this thread that may not be privy to information you (think you) have.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

yes

Are you telling me that Baroness Scotland is Attorney General?

 

[untethered]

yes

I think you're mistaken.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I edited out that she's leader of the Lords. She isn't any more.

There are other people reading this thread that may not be privy to information you (think you) have.

I don't think I have anything. I have no idea what Baroness Amos is doing these days. When I knew her she was at DfID

 

[Relahni]

No, a Frontbencher is a member of the government, most members of the govenment arent Cabinet Ministers.

you are wrong.

I am right. so ner ner...

Back benchers are members of the Government as well. can you be a back bencher and a front bencher?

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Back benchers are members of the Government as well. can you be a back bencher and a front bencher?

If you had a big enough arse to cover both

 

[Relahni]

I think you're mistaken.

I am mistaken.

 

[untethered]

I don't think I have anything. I have no idea what Baroness Amos is doing these days. When I knew her she was at DfID

My mistake. I momentarily thought this thread was about current front benchers.

 

[untethered]

I am mistaken.

I was mistaken, too, but about something different.

There's a lot of it about.

Down with Brown.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

My mistake. I momentarily thought this thread was about current front benchers.

Maybe it is?

*goes back to beginning of thread*

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

On another website I have been told that there has never been any black front benchers. I'm fairly certain that that is not the case but cannot think of any!

Is it true, or am I right? If I am right, who are/were they and what were the posts?

My mistake. I momentarily thought this thread was about current front benchers.

sorted

 

[Relahni]

sorted

Nice one.

Now can you sort out what a "front bencher" is?

 

[untethered]

Nice one.

Now can you sort out what a "front bencher" is?

Someone who sits on the front bench.

I've sat on the front bench, as it happens. However, I'm not black.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Nice one.

Now can you sort out what a "front bencher" is?

It's home time I'm afraid.

You'll have to get untethered to explain























'cos I don't know

according to one dictionary it's

The first bench on either side of the aisle in a parliament, reserved for ministers and leaders of the principal political parties

and another

either of the two benches nearest the chair in a British legislature (as the House of Commons) occupied by government and opposition leaders ; also : the leaders themselves

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Someone who sits on the front bench.

I've sat on the front bench, as it happens. However, I'm not black.

I did as well, when I went to the circus. It's not a good idea to be on the front bench. You tend to get picked on.

 

[untethered]

I did as well, when I went to the circus. It's not a good idea to be on the front bench. You tend to get picked on.

But you get more legroom. It's like being in first class as opposed to economy.

Or at least business.

 

[Relahni]

Someone who sits on the front bench.

I've sat on the front bench, as it happens. However, I'm not black.

well, so have I so meh.....

 

[soulfish]

Its only been Paul Boateng.

 

[ViolentPanda]

A front bencher to me, is a cabinet member.

Dennis Skinner sits on the front bench, yet he's never been a minster, junior or cabinet grade.

 

[ViolentPanda]

Its only been Paul Boateng.

So, as I asked you on another thread, don't you identify Keith Vaz as "black", then?

 

[Prince Rhyus]

Boeteng AFAIK is the only "BME" Commons Cabinet Minister of modern times. (Baronnesses Scotland and Amos being in the Lords.) Vaz was a Minister of State as Minister for Europe and Lammy is also a Minister of State at...DIUS I think. Sadiq Khan at Communities and Local Government is one to watch out for in the future.

 

[soulfish]

03-12-2008, 13:18
ViolentPanda
Still doesn't hug Nazis Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: A broken arm's length away
Posts: 35,465

Quote:
Originally Posted by soulfish
Its only been Paul Boateng.

So, as I asked you on another thread, don't you identify Keith Vaz as "black", then?

Keith Vaz wasnt a front bencher

 

[ViolentPanda]

03-12-2008, 13:18
ViolentPanda
Still doesn't hug Nazis Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: A broken arm's length away
Posts: 35,465

Quote:
Originally Posted by soulfish
Its only been Paul Boateng.

So, as I asked you on another thread, don't you identify Keith Vaz as "black", then?

Keith Vaz wasnt a front bencher

He was a minister of state. A minister of state is a front-bencher. What he wasn't, was a cabinet minister.

 

[soulfish]

Don't agree with that, secretaries of state are front benchers the rest are a variety of junior ministers. In relation to Dennis Skinner he sits to the side at the front. Front benchers sit with the leader of the party.

 

[ViolentPanda]

Don't agree with that, secretaries of state are front benchers the rest are a variety of junior ministers. In relation to Dennis Skinner he sits to the side at the front. Front benchers sit with the leader of the party.

You're conflating seating arrangements (in a Commons chamber not big enough to hold all the MP by a long chalk) with political rank. If, for example, defence questions are scheduled, the Secretary of State for Defence will be in the "lead" spot (i.e. at the despatch box), and have his junior ministers beside him on the front bench, just as Vaz was with his minister. He was entitled to a position on the front bench by virtue of his ministerial position, therefore he (and other ministers) are referred to as "front-benchers".
BTW, when the prime minister is at the despatch box, the cabinet and/or the leader of the house sit with him, hence when the PM is there, you don't see the non-cabinet ministers around him.

 

[soulfish]

Isnt the front bench the cabinet? Or did i dream it?

 

[ViolentPanda]

Isnt the front bench the cabinet? Or did i dream it?

The Cabinet is made up of the Secretary of State for each spending dept, the Prime Minister, the Chancellor and the Cabinet Secretary, so not even all Secretaries of State are in the Cabinet.

The Front Bench is:
""Frontbencher" is a term often used to describe members of the various departmental ministerial teams who occupy these benches when answering or asking questions in the House.

This also applies to the House of Lords where members of the government and opposition occupy the benches in front of the Despatch Boxes" (as posted by Louis MacNeice in post #23 with link to where he got it from).