Preposition: from

• side: A Standing Committee is chaired by a senior backbencher from either side of the House.

Converse of object

• encourage: As soon as Brown openly encourages a backbencher to come forward, Blair's supporters will come out and strike.

• say: But the former health secretary Frank Dobson says another 75 backbenchers oppose the white paper.

• include: When Panorama put out a program which included some Conservative backbenchers expressing doubts about the use of military force she was consumed with rage.

• persuade: The Independent reports that Charles Clarke held a special meeting last night in order to persuade backbenchers not to back the rebel amendment.

• remain: Afterward, despite been offered various minor unpaid posts in the Government, he preferred to remain a backbencher.

Adjective modifier

• Conservative: Opposition would have been left to Conservative backbenchers who would have been marginalized.

• senior: A senior backbencher said, " I dread to think of some of the scenes they will capture.

• own: A subdued Mr Straw experienced the anger of his own backbenchers.

• other: Other backbenchers will be voicing their concerns next week at a debate about the current policy toward Iraq, Mr Dalyell said.

• angry: But will it go far enough to pacify his angry backbenchers?

• ordinary: And these affect not just rank and file Labor supporters or even ordinary backbenchers but an important wing of the shadow cabinet.

Noun used with modifier

• labor: Labor backbenchers have already produced an " alternative White Paper " .

• opposition: On standing committee, opposition backbenchers are frequently supplied with gobbledygook notes by specialist ' advisers ' .

• Dem: Such a complaint was made by Lib Dem backbencher Evan Harris on the Today program this morning.