While perhaps a commonplace, the unconscious backbencher is not axiomatic. As one could so rarely know the difference from their votes, its "conscious backbencher vote" that is a contradiction in terms in many parliamentary systems.

I was rather referring in the second part there to a LibDem backbencher at least wanting to be blind drunk before a vote in this Parliament.

I've been accused of being a Marxist, yet while Harpo's my favourite, it's Groucho I'm always quoting. Odd, that.