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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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cross-benches
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Seats in the House of Lords which are arranged along the short end of the rectangular debating chamber. Since the two main parties confront each other from opposite sides of the chamber, these seats imply a position of independence. Only in the Lords do members frequently have no expressed allegiance to a political party, and the idea of the 'cross-bencher' developed in the 19C to describe peers of this kind.
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