Word: backbencher
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...hurry to promise any oil until the British left Suez. There was the discontented U.N. Hammarskjold was insisting that British and French forces withdraw from Port Said before any settlement was made for the canal. There was rebellion among Eden's own followers: a committee of backbench Tory M.P.s from the "Suez group" came to tell him bluntly that he must stand up firmly to U.N. demands or lose their support. In another office, officials were preparing the most conspicuous dramatization of Eden's troubles-the imposition of gasoline rationing...
...Gaullist defection started a political bank run. Backbench Deputies besieged their leaders, urging them to desert the government. They had differing reasons, but a single fear: if this government was blamed for "losing North Africa," they stood to lose their seats in next year's elections. The dissident Gaullists caucused and demanded that Minister of Moroccan and Tunisian Affairs Pierre July resign. July refused. Then, the Independents voted for the withdrawal of Foreign Minister Pinay and the Independents' two other Cabinet members...
Last week Churchill's youngsters were getting so rebellious that the master himself decided to drop in on the backbench organization still known as the 1922 Committee, though only a handful of today's backbenchers were M.P.s in 1922. The Prime Minister got a rousing cheer when he told the rebels of the government's plans "to denationalize road haulage at the earliest possible moment." Then, step by step, the Prime Minister covered the points at issue. "He went over the same old ground," said one backbencher, "but somehow, if the Old Man took you from Piccadilly...