John Curtis
@johncurtis.bsky.social
Senior Researcher/Clerk at the House of Commons Library, researching Asia, Americas and the NI Protocol. War Studies alumnus. Follow for tepid takes on uncontroversial subjects.
The Commons Foreign Affairs Committee published its first report of the session today on the ‘Israel-Palestine conflict’.
One of their recommendations is that the UK Government “should now recognise the state of Palestine” (though it divided on this issue)
committees.parliament.uk/publications...
One of their recommendations is that the UK Government “should now recognise the state of Palestine” (though it divided on this issue)
committees.parliament.uk/publications...
July 25, 2025 at 9:35 AM
The Commons Foreign Affairs Committee published its first report of the session today on the ‘Israel-Palestine conflict’.
One of their recommendations is that the UK Government “should now recognise the state of Palestine” (though it divided on this issue)
committees.parliament.uk/publications...
One of their recommendations is that the UK Government “should now recognise the state of Palestine” (though it divided on this issue)
committees.parliament.uk/publications...
Think this is the first time I’ve gone to a Chatham House event with protestors outside. Muhammad Yunus, Bangladesh’s effective Prime Minister, is speaking at 11
June 11, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Think this is the first time I’ve gone to a Chatham House event with protestors outside. Muhammad Yunus, Bangladesh’s effective Prime Minister, is speaking at 11
There's a short section on FIRS and China in our UK-China relationship paper commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
April 2, 2025 at 2:32 PM
There's a short section on FIRS and China in our UK-China relationship paper commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
Asked by the Shadow Home Secretary about why China hadn't been added to the enhanced tier, the Security Minister Dan Jarvis said that "countries will be considered separately and decisions will be taken by this Government based on the evidence" hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025...
April 2, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Asked by the Shadow Home Secretary about why China hadn't been added to the enhanced tier, the Security Minister Dan Jarvis said that "countries will be considered separately and decisions will be taken by this Government based on the evidence" hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025...
I like this visualisation, my colleagues did a few charts on this in their paper published in December (though figures also only going up to 2022/23)
commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
February 25, 2025 at 2:44 PM
I like this visualisation, my colleagues did a few charts on this in their paper published in December (though figures also only going up to 2022/23)
commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
Not the Financial Times. Is it just me that detests the term "lawmaker" for Member of Parliament/Representative etc?
January 7, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Not the Financial Times. Is it just me that detests the term "lawmaker" for Member of Parliament/Representative etc?
You may notice that I only have a jawline on one side here- last night after a few weeks of illness my face/neck started to swell up & ache like crazy. What a lovely late Christmas present. 2024 has been the best 🙄
December 26, 2024 at 12:27 PM
You may notice that I only have a jawline on one side here- last night after a few weeks of illness my face/neck started to swell up & ache like crazy. What a lovely late Christmas present. 2024 has been the best 🙄
Some hastily taken photos
December 25, 2024 at 2:24 PM
Some hastily taken photos
For the first time the responsibility for the family Christmas lunch rests in my hands (I’ve done it for my other half and friends before, but this feels like an extra level of responsibility) God speed you meaty beauties
December 25, 2024 at 10:57 AM
For the first time the responsibility for the family Christmas lunch rests in my hands (I’ve done it for my other half and friends before, but this feels like an extra level of responsibility) God speed you meaty beauties
In fairness, she was a cracking singer, just not quite the chilled dinner vibe we were going for
December 25, 2024 at 12:41 AM
In fairness, she was a cracking singer, just not quite the chilled dinner vibe we were going for
Well if nothing else goes right with the Thanksgiving cooking today, we’ll have desserts. I do enjoy this adopted holiday
November 28, 2024 at 11:18 AM
Well if nothing else goes right with the Thanksgiving cooking today, we’ll have desserts. I do enjoy this adopted holiday
Our paper on military support to Ukraine also explores the UK government’s legal justification for supplying military support to Ukraine
researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CB...
researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CB...
November 20, 2024 at 8:27 PM
Our paper on military support to Ukraine also explores the UK government’s legal justification for supplying military support to Ukraine
researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CB...
researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CB...
The short story is the Government has prerogative powers to make decisions about the deployment of the UK’s armed forces & isn’t under a legal obligation to ask for parliamentary approval or keep it informed.
But there has been an emerging convention for Parliament to approve military action
But there has been an emerging convention for Parliament to approve military action
November 20, 2024 at 8:06 PM
The short story is the Government has prerogative powers to make decisions about the deployment of the UK’s armed forces & isn’t under a legal obligation to ask for parliamentary approval or keep it informed.
But there has been an emerging convention for Parliament to approve military action
But there has been an emerging convention for Parliament to approve military action
Can confirm the budget had unleashed huge growth…. in the crowds outside the Two Chairmen
October 30, 2024 at 7:45 PM
Can confirm the budget had unleashed huge growth…. in the crowds outside the Two Chairmen
Government published a list of Cabinet Committees today.
There’s a new European Affairs committee, chaired by the Prime Minister.
With ministerial responsibility for EU/European relations split between the Cabinet Office, FCDO, & Business & Trade, could be the key body for co-ordinating efforts.
There’s a new European Affairs committee, chaired by the Prime Minister.
With ministerial responsibility for EU/European relations split between the Cabinet Office, FCDO, & Business & Trade, could be the key body for co-ordinating efforts.
October 10, 2024 at 2:56 PM
Government published a list of Cabinet Committees today.
There’s a new European Affairs committee, chaired by the Prime Minister.
With ministerial responsibility for EU/European relations split between the Cabinet Office, FCDO, & Business & Trade, could be the key body for co-ordinating efforts.
There’s a new European Affairs committee, chaired by the Prime Minister.
With ministerial responsibility for EU/European relations split between the Cabinet Office, FCDO, & Business & Trade, could be the key body for co-ordinating efforts.
If you’d like to know the content of the missive
September 30, 2024 at 6:19 PM
If you’d like to know the content of the missive
Oooh, a lovely letter, I thought, probably from someone else in the block. Perhaps an invite? Turns out the Jehovah Witnesses are just upping their game.
September 30, 2024 at 6:18 PM
Oooh, a lovely letter, I thought, probably from someone else in the block. Perhaps an invite? Turns out the Jehovah Witnesses are just upping their game.
The Diplomat conducted a long interview with Ishiba Shigeru, Japan's new PM designate last year. Lots of interesting material, especially on his views of Article 9 of the constitution (often said to commit Japan to "pacifism")
thediplomat.com/2023/12/the-...
thediplomat.com/2023/12/the-...
September 27, 2024 at 10:53 AM
The Diplomat conducted a long interview with Ishiba Shigeru, Japan's new PM designate last year. Lots of interesting material, especially on his views of Article 9 of the constitution (often said to commit Japan to "pacifism")
thediplomat.com/2023/12/the-...
thediplomat.com/2023/12/the-...
Our neighbourhood watch
September 26, 2024 at 10:18 AM
Our neighbourhood watch
My spreadsheet version if people want it.
September 9, 2024 at 7:49 PM
My spreadsheet version if people want it.
We now know the membership of the new Modernisation Committee. 9 Labour, 3 Conservative & 2 Lib Dems, no representatives from the smaller parties (14 members rather than the usual 11). Leader of the House Lucy Powell, will Chair as was already announced & her Shadow Chris Philp also a member.
September 9, 2024 at 9:52 AM
We now know the membership of the new Modernisation Committee. 9 Labour, 3 Conservative & 2 Lib Dems, no representatives from the smaller parties (14 members rather than the usual 11). Leader of the House Lucy Powell, will Chair as was already announced & her Shadow Chris Philp also a member.
Decided that I was simply too boring to pull off these trousers. The waist was good but the legs just too crazy wide.
September 8, 2024 at 6:41 PM
Decided that I was simply too boring to pull off these trousers. The waist was good but the legs just too crazy wide.
This section was particularly interesting on one reason why everyone wants you to download an app
September 5, 2024 at 5:47 PM
This section was particularly interesting on one reason why everyone wants you to download an app