Shadow Cabinet

The Shadow Cabinet (also called the Front Bench) is a senior group of opposition spokespeople in the Westminster System of government who together under the leadership of the Leader of the Opposition (or the leader of other smaller opposition parties) form an alternative cabinet to the government's, and whose members shadow or mark each individual member of the government. Members of a shadow cabinet often but not always are appointed to a cabinet post if and when their party gets into government.

In the United Kingdom and Canada the major opposition party and specifically its shadow cabinet is often called Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition. The adjective "loyal" is used because while there are policy differences, everyone acknowledges the role of the opposition in the system.