Most MPs never make it to the frontbench

It's the least glamorous role a politician can perform - that of backbencher.

You're expected to toe the party line, make speeches defending the policies and decisions of your colleagues on the frontbenches and tell the media what a wonderful job your leader is doing when the going gets tough.

Many MPs when they first get elected to Parliament aspire to become a minister - but most of course remain backbenchers. It's their role and how it could be strengthened that is currently the subject of an inquiry by the cross party Modernisation Committee.

One of the questions they've asked - whether spending too much time on constituency work is undermining the work backbenchers are supposed to be doing scrutinising legislation and holding the government to account in the House of Commons?

Our reporter Ben Shore has been talking to the Leader of the House, Jack Straw, who is chairing the inquiry.

Listen to Ben Shore's report