Talk:Shadow Cabinet

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Surely Front Bench (which redirects here) is used to refer to the front benches of either the opposition (the shadow cabinet) or the government (the actual cabinet). Indeed, isn't it even used to refer to the LibDem spokesmen? And isn't the phrase used in other parliaments as well? I don't think it should redirect here (though what should be done with it, I'm not sure). --Camembert

No Front Bench (double capitalisation) is generally used to refer to the shadow cabinet, whether it is of the major opposition party or a minor one. Some states use SC, others (eg, Ireland) use FB to describe the senior alternative ministers around the Leader of the Opposition. A front bench (lower case) very rarely is used to describe ministers, but that is at its most generic and very very rarely. 99 times out of 100, Front Bench (specifically when double capitalised) means simply the opposition alternative ministers. STÓD/ÉÍRE 02:04 Apr 11, 2003 (UTC)

Fair enough. I stand corrected. I knew I should stay out of the politics pages ;) --Camembert

Cam, you always make good contributions. I kinda forgot that SC/FB is used by smaller parties and not just the main opposition. You reminded me so I changed the article to include them so I'm glad you didn't stay away.

Ah, you flatter me. Thanks :) --Camembert

I put frontbencher on before I saw this. Feel free to add an Irish element, but in the UK it is a physical position for Government and Opposition.--Henrygb 17:10, 2 Apr 2004 (UTC)

I was once told that the term 'Shadow Cabinet' was coined by the BBC. Is there any substance in that? Adambisset 18:42, 22 Oct 2004 (UTC)

I don't think that the section about "However in other countries that use the Westminster system (eg. Australia and New Zealand), the opposition is known simply as The Parliamentary Opposition" is actually correct. Although the Opposition party is typically called "The Opposition", and (for the purposes of news or otherwise) referred to as the The Parliamentary Opposition for purposes of clarification, it's still officially HM Loyal Opposition.

I and others can attest that I have never seen a reference to an Opposition in Australia anywhere as such, and certainly not in any official capacity. I suggest you find a reference for this point. Parliamentary customs are not identical across the Commonwealth Realms. Lacrimosus 23:02, 22 Jan 2005 (UTC)

I'll also jump in and say that I can't find any official use of the term in New Zealand, either. It is used by some individual politicians, but this is rare, and I can't tell whether they're using the title because it's official or whether they're just being deliberately old-fashoned. (Some of the instances I've found seem to be slightly facetious). I would prefer it if the term were not applied to the New Zealand opposition unless someone can first provide an official citation. (I do have a claim by a fairly authoritative source that the the "Leader of the Opposition" is officially just that, not "Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition".) -- Vardion 05:46, 23 Jan 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Merger with Shadow Government

I'd dispute the proposed merger with shadow government for three main reasons:

• "shadow cabinet" is a term specific to the Westminster system; shadow government has a broader meaning and is hardly ever encountered in a Westminster context;
• "shadow government"'s primary meaning is not to an opposition, but rather a "reserve" government that waits to take over from the acting administration in the event of some disaster or incapacity;
• A secondary meaning of "shadow government" has to do with conspiracy theories, which is entirely unlike the Westminster shadow cabinet. Slac speak up! 19:19, 18 September 2005 (UTC)

Agreed. If no one objects within the next few days I will remove the merge tag. the wub "?!" 09:22, 7 October 2005 (UTC)

Please go ahead and remove the tags; it's been more than three weeks. --moof 02:39, 31 October 2005 (UTC)

Tags removed --Saint-Paddy 21:01, 7 December 2005 (UTC)

Seconded. I'd even recommend removing the link to Shadow Government, since it does not reference any kind of "loyal opposition" but talks mainly about governemnts that are formed as responses to invasion or coups brought about by civil or international strife. Owlqueen 22:04, 25 September 2007 (UTC)