| What has saved him so far are his back-benchers, made compliant with a large salary, an expense account, and an index-linked pension when they get the heave-ho. |
| That free vote will apply to ministers and whips as well as to back-benchers. |
| Pity that their back-benchers brought up the issue on a quiet news day before the last World Cup and have not ceased pouring oil on troubled waters since. |
| It is also a useful barometer of the loyalty and pliability of Labour and Lib Dem back-benchers. |
| Likud back-benchers, already alarmed at the specter of renewed peace talks, have begun thumping for a hard-liner in that key post. |
