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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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Opposition
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The largest political party in the House of *Commons other than the one in power, with a duty to criticize the actions of government and to be ready when the time comes to form a government. The term was in use from the early days of the *two-party system, but the formal parliamentary concept of His (or Her) Majesty's Opposition first emerged during a debate in 1826.
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In 1937 the office of leader of the Opposition was officially recognized and the holder was granted a state salary in addition to that earned as an MP. He or she presides over the shadow cabinet, a group of ministers-in-waiting who are allotted portfolios corresponding to those in the real *cabinet and who lead from the *front bench in debates on their own subject. A Conservative shadow cabinet is chosen by the leader of the Opposition, but a Labour shadow cabinet is elected by the party's members of parliament.
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