cross the floor

cross the floor

1. Of parliamentary members, to vote against the common trend of one's political party (i.e., vote "against party lines"). Primarily heard in UK, Australia, New Zealand. Though it is largely opposed by the Conservative Party, enough PMs have crossed the floor on this issue that it looks like it might succeed.
2. Of parliamentary members, to leave one's current political party and join another, such that one's legislative seat is physically moved to the new party's location in parliament. Primarily heard in UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand. Following the prime minister's controversial tax bill, several members of his party crossed the floor to the Labor Party.
See also: cross, floor
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

cross the floor

join the opposing side in Parliament. British
The floor of the House of Commons is the open space separating members of the Government and Opposition parties, who sit on benches facing each other across it.
See also: cross, floor
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • (one's) true colours
  • (one's) jig is up
  • at (one's) doorstep
  • at doorstep
  • at expense
  • at somebody's expense
  • at someone's expense
  • at (one's) expense
  • be remembered as (something)
  • be remembered as/for something
References in classic literature
He watched a patch of moonlight cross the floor of their lodging, and, as sometimes happens when the mind is overtaxed, he fell asleep for the rest of the room, but kept awake for the patch of moonlight.
He lost an important by-election, had an MP cross the floor and then threatened to sack 21 MPs."
He refuted allegations that he wanted to cross the floor to Botswana Patriotic Front Party (BPF).
Our political history is witness to the fact that whenever our legislators have the intention to cross the floor, they find a way out.
Just seven days later, the Bishop, to the astonishment of his party and constituency electorate, decided to "cross the floor", and in so doing, became the leader of the Democratic Barbados Labour Party, and therefore the leader of the opposition.
Prior to the Senate polls, the PTI was under pressure to seek the allegiance of its MPs to stop them to cross the floor and vote to wealthy candidates fielded by the opposition parties.
Australian cabinet minister Steve Ciobo has cautioned coalition MPs who are expected to cross the floor to demand a banking royal commission.
I am not saying they should cross the floor over to SDSM.
Constable Daniel Finnegan crawled in through the back door and tried to cross the floor under dense smoke but he was beaten back by the heat.
She insisted she would not "cross the floor" to join a rival party in the House of Commons.
I disliked seeing Tory MPs cross the floor to join Labour when we were in government - and when former Labour ministers helped the Tories in power.
I believe that they should cross the floor of the House and join the Conservatives.
Now Dancing On Ice has hit the skids, they're 6/1 with William Hill to cross the floor and appear on Strictly Come Dancing.
Bob Ainsworth, Labour MP for Coventry North East, said of the defection: "When people cross the floor in politics there are always one or two feelings.
The result was that people would stay tuned to the dullest shows through being too idle to cross the floor to change channels.