Paul Evans @courtenayilbert.bsky.social · 31/07/2026It has been too little noticed that one of the three Chiltern Hundreds is Burnham. 041
Paul Evans @courtenayilbert.bsky.social · 14/06/2026This is so true. Every organised thing needs a margin to deal with the unexpected. I would say that most complex organisations should run at no more than 85% of capacity in normal conditions (armies obviously need to aim for about 15%). Getting rid of that margin isn't clever - it's easy and stupid. 010
Paul Evans @courtenayilbert.bsky.social · 18/05/2026🇬🇧 British Political Spectrum Quiz My result: Democratic Socialist Economic: collectivist Social: centrist Sovereignty: cosmopolitan Military: leaning anti-interventionist Authority: centrist Constitutional: leaning reformist Take the quiz: quiz.jmoxley.co.ukquiz.jmoxley.co.ukBritish Political Spectrum QuizFind out where you sit on the British political map across six dimensions. 020
Paul Evans @courtenayilbert.bsky.social · 17/04/2026With all this about Mandelson's vetting I feel an urge to tell a story of my own. One of my best friends (long since dead sadly) was offered a post in John Major's private office when he was Chancellor. One evening in the Red Lion on Whitehall he told me he had put me down as a referee for DV. 2132
Paul Evans @courtenayilbert.bsky.social · 07/03/2026Just completed the DCMC BBC charter review survey. It's not exactly quick work but it is a labour of love and I would encourage others to give it a go before the closing date on Tuesday. www.gov.uk/government/c...gov.ukBritain’s Story: The Next Chapter - the BBC Royal Charter Review, Green Paper and public consultationThe government is consulting the public to aid decision-making on the terms for the BBC Charter’s renewal and any changes needed to help the BBC to continue to serve the public. 011
Reposted by Paul EvansRebecca Spang @rlspang.bsky.social · 03/03/2026I suspect this might be my problem as well… 2153
Reposted by Paul EvansUCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · 22/01/2026Can the House of Commons handle multi-party politics? Earlier this week we were joined by @elliechowns.bsky.social, @courtenayilbert.bsky.social and @louisevthompson.bsky.social to discuss smaller parties in the Commons. Listen to a recording 👉 linktr.ee/constitution.... Or watch a recording 👇youtube.comCan the House of Commons handle multi-party politics?The 2024 election delivered an unusually fragmented opposition; almost half the non-government seats in the House of Commons were won by parties other than the Conservative 'Official Opposition'.… 021
Reposted by Paul EvansUCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · 19/01/2026Does the House of Commons need to change to reflect a more fragmented politics? In one hour, join @elliechowns.bsky.social, @courtenayilbert.bsky.social and @louisevthompson.bsky.social to discuss smaller parties in the Commons at our free, online event. Sign up 👉 www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo.... 042
Reposted by Paul EvansCharlotte Nichols MP @charlotte2153.bsky.social · 02/01/2026There is, to my mind, no justification for the continued use by the UK Government of X as a platform for official comms. There hasn't been for some time, in fact, but if the latest developments around AI-generated image abuse and CSAM don't change the policy I really don't know what will. 862520751
Paul Evans @courtenayilbert.bsky.social · 31/12/2025A lonely, confused, slightly depressed, socially inadequate, Norwegian fisherman. Suits quite well. 010
Paul Evans @courtenayilbert.bsky.social · 18/12/2025A more assertive and exciting report from the Commons Backbench Business Committee than I was anticipating, published yesterday. Longer thread from the UCL Constitution Unit below. (One slight correction - it describes me as the first Clerk of BBCom - I was in fact the second.) 022
Paul Evans @courtenayilbert.bsky.social · 31/10/2025Further to my earlier response to this post, I today stumbled across the Report of the 2013 report of the Joint Committee on Parliamentary Privilege publications.parliament.uk/pa/jt201314/.... At paras 258-265 it discusses the very matter of MPs and witness summons./2publications.parliament.ukPage cannot be foundThe page you are trying to access is not available.Please return to the homepage to navigate through to our main content sections. ... 110
Paul Evans @courtenayilbert.bsky.social · 04/10/2025thecritic.co.uk/peers-have-n...thecritic.co.ukPeers have no duty to vote for assisted dying | Fleur Elizabeth Meston | The Critic MagazineEllie Ball, Director of Communications at Dignity in Dying and Compassion in Dying, posted on X recently that “The Lords has an important duty to scrutinise, but it also has a constitutional duty to… 120
Reposted by Paul EvansCharlotte Nichols MP @charlotte2153.bsky.social · 14/09/2025It melts my head that X is still used for official Government communications, and, catching up on today's news and the fact we have a foreign billionaire inciting violence on our streets, it's clearer than ever that this should end. I raised this in Parliament last week 👇 44964249
Paul Evans @courtenayilbert.bsky.social · 13/09/2025First conkers of 2025 - picked up in the bucolic surroundings of Heston M4 Services (Westbound since you ask). Autumn has definitely arrived. I love conkers - one of the greatest beauties in nature. 6241
Paul Evans @courtenayilbert.bsky.social · 29/08/2025Miller2 being a fine example of the Burkean constitutional model. UKSC, rightly dismissing the idea that prorogation was a proceeding of Parliament, noting that it was an unrestricted executive power, thwarted it, handing the reins back to Parliament which, unused to exercising any power, bungled it 000
Paul Evans @courtenayilbert.bsky.social · 24/07/2025One can only congratulate the institute for Government for being willing to explore some of the most obscure corners of parliamentary procedure - in this case hybrid bill procedure. Surprisingly (to me) they are quite positive about it. 191
Paul Evans @courtenayilbert.bsky.social · 21/06/2025Had strange vision today of London deserted by climate change refugees (population of Scotland quadrupled) and public transport having become economically unviable so all those tunnels adapted to cycleways which intrepid tourists used to visit ruins of the Houses of Parliament, St James Desert, etc. 121
Paul Evans @courtenayilbert.bsky.social · 21/06/2025So Bluesky is supposed to be "nice", but here is a supposedly respected contributor shamelessly trolling ordinary decent people who grew up in the 50s to 70s when 22 degrees was regarded as quite adequate for what we humorously called Flaming June. I wonder if they're a foreigner - or worse, young? 120
Paul Evans @courtenayilbert.bsky.social · 18/05/2025Possibly the first appearance of an iPad in English art - Tirzah Garwood (currently to be seen at Dulwich Picture Gallery). 050
Paul Evans @courtenayilbert.bsky.social · 17/05/20251 Has any competent, Marxist-tinged cultural historian written a history of Eurovision? In my lifetime (to show you how old I am I'm still in love with Sandie Shaw) it seems to have passed through a number of distinct phases, and I wonder what this might tell us about the wider zeitgeist. /2 211
Paul Evans @courtenayilbert.bsky.social · 05/03/2025I hope the conference will look at the work of the Joint Committee on Human Rights. So I'm posting this to encourage former legal advisers, members and clerks to consider submitting something. 273
Paul Evans @courtenayilbert.bsky.social · 28/02/2025An alarming proportion of people who follow me will be thrilled that the House of commons Procedure Committee has arrived on Bluesky. Let's hope this presages the arrival of many more select committees. If you follow one in particular, pile the pressure on for them to escape the cesspit of X. 083
Paul Evans @courtenayilbert.bsky.social · 17/01/2025For a long time I thought David Lynch and David Byrne were the same person. 140
Reposted by Paul EvansDave McPartlin @davemcpartlin.bsky.social · 07/01/2025Re-post if you stand by Jess. @jessphillipsmp.bsky.socialtheguardian.com‘We stand by Jess’: Telford survivors criticise Musk’s attack on PhillipsExclusive: Victims of male violence sign letter praising minister for devoting life to ‘fighting for women and girls’ 1219172
Paul Evans @courtenayilbert.bsky.social · 20/12/2024Why all this talk of the DUP *pulling* the Stormont Brake? Surely you *hit* the brake(s). Unless, of course, you are a joyrider performing a handbrake turn in an empty car park. 110
Paul Evans @courtenayilbert.bsky.social · 16/12/2024I saw something somewhere recently showing that people thought MPs pay and Parliament was the second largest area of public spending. Can anyone tell me where this might have been? 120
Paul Evans @courtenayilbert.bsky.social · 11/12/2024It's certainly more pleasing to gaze upon than that dreary lump of masonry that disfigures St James Park. 000
Paul Evans @courtenayilbert.bsky.social · 09/12/2024Can I just say that you get a much better class of bitter argument over whether the facts are the facts, or over conspiracies (maybe of silence) or over allegations of four centuries worth of fake news here on Bluesky than you ever saw you know where. 132
Paul Evans @courtenayilbert.bsky.social · 30/11/2024This is such a reassuringly (and in some ways refreshingly) compassionate take on the assisted dying debate. Worth five minutes of anyone's time. 0152
Paul Evans @courtenayilbert.bsky.social · 29/11/2024Nearly your last chance to buy tickets for the Study of Parliament Group's 60th anniversary conference next Thursday and Friday in Westminster!https://studyofparliamentgroup.org/2024/10/09/study-of-parliament-groups-60th-anniversary-conference/ 200
Paul Evans @courtenayilbert.bsky.social · 28/11/2024Another excellent piece on assisted dying by David Aaronovich. davidaaronovitch.substack.com/p/anything-b...davidaaronovitch.substack.comAnything but this, any time but nowWhy the Assisted Dying Bill should pass and why it may not 000
Paul Evans @courtenayilbert.bsky.social · 27/11/2024This analysis by Rafael Behr is excellent. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...theguardian.comMPs will vote, but there is a better way to decide who has the right to die | Rafael BehrIn an age of cynicism and mistrust, politicians must work harder to involve the public in difficult decisions, says Guardian columnist Rafael Behr 102
Paul Evans @courtenayilbert.bsky.social · 15/11/2024Very much looking forward to the Study of Parliament Group's 60th birthday conference in Westminster on 5/6 December. It is open to non-members of the Group - see here: studyofparliamentgroup.org/2024/10/09/s...studyofparliamentgroup.orgStudy of Parliament Group’s 60th Anniversary ConferenceThur 5 Dec 1000–1700, Fri 6 Dec 0900–1600 [Now including draft agenda] The conference will include a range of speakers on topics such as Parliamentary standards, Parliament and the executive, and r… 2159
Paul Evans @courtenayilbert.bsky.social · 12/11/2024I think it may get better scrutiny because, not being a government bill, it will not be possible to force it through at high speed or against the convictions (as opposed to instructions) of a majority of MPs. See my post of a few days back: bsky.app/profile/cour... 164
Paul Evans @courtenayilbert.bsky.social · 11/11/2024Larry Elliott is banging on in The Guardian about how the EU is a neoliberal conspiracy against the workers. When I was a boy, Maggie Thatcher et al used to bang on about how it was a socialist conspiracy against free enterprise and private property. Could someone please tell me who is/was right? 040
Paul Evans @courtenayilbert.bsky.social · 07/11/2024Finally done it. Deactivated my Xitter aacount. 1120
Paul Evans @courtenayilbert.bsky.social · 03/11/2024Here is a lesson for all UK companies but more especially for all public agencies and authorities (including PARLIAMENT!) 040
Paul Evans @courtenayilbert.bsky.social · 02/11/20241/18 I don't want to enter the argument about assisted dying on one side or the other, but the debate prompted me to say something about parliamentary procedure in making legislation. I am often a critic of current legislative procedure, but here I want to defend some aspects. 43624
Paul Evans @courtenayilbert.bsky.social · 27/10/20241/6 I was researching the notorious Rooker-Wise Amendment, which took me to the Finance Act 1977 (incidentally the year I graduated). The Act revealed that the basic rate of income tax was 34%. 300
Paul Evans @courtenayilbert.bsky.social · 22/10/2024I was moved to remind people of this resolution of the Commons of 1 Nov 1678: Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to inquire into the Causes of the late Noises of knocking, that have been heard in the Night in the Old Palace Yard; or thereabout ... 131
Paul Evans @courtenayilbert.bsky.social · 11/10/2024I've just been invited by LinkedIn to follow James Cleverly MP. It feels a bit pointed. 140
Reposted by Paul EvansWill Jennings📉🗳️ @drjennings.bsky.social · 11/10/2024The argument for remaining on X has become so thin. It and its owner have become absolutely corrosive influences on public life. www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...theatlantic.comI’m Running Out of Ways to Explain How Bad This IsWhat’s happening in America today is something darker than a misinformation crisis. 36621
Reposted by Paul EvansDr Duncan Robertson @duncanrobertson.bsky.social · 11/10/2024Companies and organizations (universities etc) should also take the initiative review their presence on X to see if it aligns with their values. 0134
Paul Evans @courtenayilbert.bsky.social · 19/09/2024I feel insufficient credit for their grasp of nominative determinism has gone to whoever named Storm Boris - which has produced a lot of wind and left a trail of chaos. And tragedy, sadly. 110
Paul Evans @courtenayilbert.bsky.social · 18/09/2024Bluesky now has over 10 million users, and I was #1,580,616! 110
