In Britain, thefront bench or people who sit on thefront bench are members of Parliament who are ministers in the Government or who hold official positions in an opposition party.
Some of the Government front bench were unhappy with the prime minister's statement.
front bench in British English
noun
1. British
a.
the foremost bench of either the Government or Opposition in the House of Commons
b.
the leadership (frontbenchers) of either group, who occupy this bench
c.
(as modifier)
a front-bench decision
2.
the leadership of the government or opposition in various legislative assemblies
Examples of 'front bench' in a sentence
front bench
Why are there so few women on either front bench?
The Sun (2015)
Likewise for the opposition front bench.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Now it would hold the Labour front bench.
The Sun (2016)
The opposition front bench has found the answer: shadow sledging.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Opposition front bench and government front bench looking straight into each other's eyes.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It is an ideal that all too many MPs have at the back of their minds until they escape onto the government or opposition front benches.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
But self-belief on the opposition front benches of 2007 is growing.