HOUSE OF LORDS - United Kingdom Parliament

Seating in the Chamber
1.54 The side of the House on the Sovereign’s right hand when she is
seated on the Throne is called the spiritual side, and that on the left the
temporal side.
1.55 By convention the government and their supporters occupy the
benches on the spiritual side, with the exception of the first two benches
nearest to the Throne, which are taken by the bishops. Lords Spiritual
must speak from the bishops’ benches. Only the two Archbishops and
the Bishops of London, Durham and Winchester may speak from the
front one of these benches, and they also have priority in relation to
seating on this bench. Lords Temporal may sit on the bishops’ benches,
when space allows, but may not speak from them.
1.56 The benches on the temporal side are, by convention, occupied
by the opposition parties. Originally there were only two benches on the
temporal side of the House, namely, the Earls’ Bench (at the front) and
the Barons’ Bench, adjacent to the wall. There are now five benches, but
the lowest or front bench continues to be known as the Earls’ Bench, and
the highest bench, abutting the wall, as the Barons’ Bench. The official
opposition party occupies the centre block and the benches nearest the
Bar. The other opposition parties occupy the upper end of the Earls’
Bench and the benches behind it. The diagram at the end of chapter 1
shows the usual seating arrangements.
1.57 The Cross Benches are for those who are not members of any of
the main political parties in the House 1 .
1.58 On both sides of the Chamber the front benches below the
gangway are customarily occupied by Privy Counsellors.
Steps of the Throne
1.59 The following may sit on the steps of the Throne:
members of the House of Lords in receipt of a writ of summons,
including those who have not taken their seat or the oath and
those who have leave of absence;
1 The Crossbench Group is made up of members who are not affiliated to any political party.
Members who belong to smaller parties may also sit on the Cross Benches.
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