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John Curtis

@johncurtis.bsky.social
6.2K followers 1.4K following 349 posts

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.

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John Curtis @johncurtis.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
Moving house and came across these which for a few years didn’t leave my desk and I knew far too well. Beautiful Brexit trauma memories
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John Curtis @johncurtis.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
I’ve published a briefing giving an overview of all things Greenland if you haven’t had your fill already commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
commonslibrary.parliament.uk
President Trump and Greenland: Frequently asked questions
President Trump has expressed interest in the US acquiring Greenland. Greenland, the UK, and most European countries, are opposed to this
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John Curtis @johncurtis.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
I’ve published a short briefing on the US’s capture of Nicolás Maduro I’m sure it will need updating soon… commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
commonslibrary.parliament.uk
The US capture of Nicolás Maduro
This briefing looks at the January 2026 US military operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, statements by President Trump and US officials, the UK and international response, and questi...
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John Curtis @johncurtis.bsky.social · 12/12/2025
There has been a sustained focus on state threats & foreign interference activities in the UK over the last few weeks, including a debate on the impact of foreign interference on security, trade & democracy in the Commons yesterday. Below are some relevant Library briefings that might be of interest
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House of Commons @houseofcommons.parliament.uk · 13/10/2025
When the House sits late, the Commons library stays open 📚 On Monday nights, library services are available to MPs and their staff, long after the sun sets. Follow John for a quick tour of one of Parliament's key services.
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John Curtis @johncurtis.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
I put together a short briefing with David Torrance on state visits to the UK. Found out a few interesting nuggets while researching it Also includes a spreadsheet of all state visits since 1952 including addresses to Parliament commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
commonslibrary.parliament.uk
State visits to the UK
What are state visits? Who decides who is invited? Who pays the costs? What is the format of a state visit? Do they always include addresses to Parliament?
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John Curtis @johncurtis.bsky.social · 28/08/2025
Extending a session does bring issues, such as needing to add extra Opposition Days and days for consideration of Private Members’ Bills, which are fixed at 20 and 13 per session, respectively. Though the Government isn’t obliged to do so. All 13 PMB days have been used this session.
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Paul Brand @paulbrand.bsky.social · 28/08/2025
NEW: The government has announced that this session of parliament will last until spring 2026. Among other things, that means that the assisted dying bill has another 7-8 months to complete its passage through the Lords, increasingly the likelihood of it becoming law.
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John Curtis @johncurtis.bsky.social · 25/07/2025
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...
49. RECOMMENDATION
The Committee agrees with the position taken by successive UK
Governments, that the two-state solution is the only possible positive outcome in this conflict. The UK, along with France —the co-signatory of the 1916 Sykes-Picot Agreement-should now recognise the state of Palestine while there is still a state to recognise. An inalienable right should not be made conditional. The Government cannot continue to wait for the perfect time because experience shows that there will never be a perfect time, and in hindsight it is possible to see times when it should have occurred.
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John Curtis @johncurtis.bsky.social · 15/07/2025
The US State Department has not published its annual country human rights reports which are usually put out in Spring. The FCDO have not published their annual human rights report in two years. I would just like me some good up to date official sources for this stuff.
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John Curtis @johncurtis.bsky.social · 07/07/2025
My Reception year teacher was still using ITA in 1989! And it caused me difficulties reading as I’d already learned to read using the normal alphabet before I started school. Thankfully, a new headteacher came in and made her stop using it www.theguardian.com/education/20...
theguardian.com
The radical 1960s schools experiment that created a whole new alphabet – and left thousands of children unable to spell
Decades ago, a generation of UK schoolchildren unwittingly took part in an initiative aimed at boosting reading skills – with lasting consequences
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John Curtis @johncurtis.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
Realised that the only cold drinks in my fridge currently are non-alcoholic beers. Would feel rather wrong to drink them whilst working during the middle of the day however…
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John Curtis @johncurtis.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
We published a briefing on Iran’s nuclear programme and the ongoing Israeli-Iranian military strikes commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
commonslibrary.parliament.uk
Israel-Iran 2025: Developments in Iran's nuclear programme and military action
On 13 June 2025, Israel launched a series of attacks against Iran’s nuclear programme.
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John Curtis @johncurtis.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
EU-UK agreement on Gibraltar reached (at political level, full legal text to come) www.gov.uk/government/n...
gov.uk
UK-EU Agreement in Respect of Gibraltar: Joint statement
A joint statement from the UK, European Commission, Spain and Gibraltar following talks today (11 June) in Brussels.
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John Curtis @johncurtis.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
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
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John Curtis @johncurtis.bsky.social · 02/06/2025
Defence Secretary will make a statement to the House of Commons on the Strategic Defence Review around 3.30 pm First opportunity for parliamentary scrutiny Our FAQ’s briefing gives the background and links to several others that give the context commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
commonslibrary.parliament.uk
The forthcoming strategic defence review 2025: FAQ
The government will publish a strategic defence review in 2025, considering threats to the UK and how to meet them. What do we know about it so far?
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John Curtis @johncurtis.bsky.social · 18/05/2025
I published a briefing on Friday on the latest military confrontation between India & Pakistan over Kashmir. It also looks at the origins of the Kashmir dispute, international reaction to the current crisis, and analysis of how it escalated commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
commonslibrary.parliament.uk
Kashmir: Renewed India-Pakistan tensions
This briefing looks at the May 2025 military confrontation between India and Pakistan, sparked by the Pahalgam attacks in Indian-administered Kashmir in April 2025. It explores the historical basis fo...
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John Curtis @johncurtis.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
You wait months for a trade deal then two come along at once…. Urgent Question on US-UK trade agreement scheduled then withdrawn- now we have a government statement on “trade negotiations”, suggesting agreement, at least in principle, has been reached
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John Curtis @johncurtis.bsky.social · 06/05/2025
My only advice on the ongoing India-Pakistan military crisis is to take any claims by either military to the media with a large shovel of salt at first.
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John Curtis @johncurtis.bsky.social · 06/05/2025
Those wanting to know more about the newly announced India-UK trade agreement may want to tune into Douglas Alexander’s urgent statement to the House of Commons, which should start around 4.15/4.30.
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John Curtis @johncurtis.bsky.social · 30/04/2025
Is there a more appreciated meal than a McDonalds after post-work drinks?
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Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
Today, the House of Lords International Agreements Committee published some evidence on treaty scrutiny that I jointly wrote with @hhesterm.bsky.social committees.parliament.uk/writtenevide... (Short 🧵)
committees.parliament.uk
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John Curtis @johncurtis.bsky.social · 12/04/2025
Ahead of the recall of parliament my colleague Ilze has published a briefing on the UK steel industry. Impressive work commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
commonslibrary.parliament.uk
UK steel industry: statistics and policy
The UK steel industry: a statistical summary of the UK and international industry; analysis of current prospects and challenges; summary of government policy.
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David Phinnemore @dphinnemore.bsky.social · 10/04/2025
Next month (19 May) the UK will host a first 'EU-UK Summit', a major moment in UK government's desired 're-set' to relations For background, @stefanofella.bsky.social has produced a very useful research briefing for House of Commons Library researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CB...
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John Curtis @johncurtis.bsky.social · 10/04/2025
Published a briefing yesterday on Myanmar’s civil war, including the effects of the March earthquake commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
commonslibrary.parliament.uk
Myanmar's civil war
Myanmar’s civil war is ongoing. This Commons Library research briefing sets out the conflict’s origins, current state of the conflict, and the UK and international response. It also covers the effects...
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John Curtis @johncurtis.bsky.social · 07/04/2025
They’re letting Barry Keoghan have another go at a Merseyside accent?
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John Curtis @johncurtis.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
The Government's new legislation to change guidelines on sentencing: the Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) Bill, will have its second reading on 22 April, and all other Commons' stages on 30 April.
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John Curtis @johncurtis.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
A bit late to this, but I note that the Government announced yesterday that the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme will go live on 1 July, and Iran and Russia, will be added to the enhanced tier, but not China. www.gov.uk/government/s...
gov.uk
Foreign Influence Registration Scheme implementation
Government announces the implementation of regulations of Foreign Influence Registration Scheme, specifying Russia under the enhanced tier.
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Conor J. Kelly @conorjkelly.bsky.social · 28/03/2025
1) NEW REPORT 🚨 'Reform of Stormont: Options for Discussion' was published by the @conunitucl.bsky.social today! Co-authored by @alanrenwick.bsky.social, @alanwhysall.bsky.social, and myself. It is free to read here: www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution...
ucl.ac.uk
Reform of Stormont
A project exploring possible reforms to Northern Ireland's governing institutions, as an aid to further discussion.
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John Curtis @johncurtis.bsky.social · 28/03/2025
In the context of the strategic defence review which we expect to be published soon, I've published a new briefing on the UK's tilt to the Indo-Pacific, its original ambitions & developments since including under the new Labour government commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
commonslibrary.parliament.uk
The UK's tilt to the Indo-Pacific and what's next for its policy to the region?
This briefing looks at UK's 'tilt to the Indo-Pacific', as first set out in the 2021 Integrated Review under the Conservative government. The goals the tilt achieved in deepening the UK's defence, for...
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John Curtis @johncurtis.bsky.social · 28/03/2025
media.tenor.com
a man and a woman are standing outside of a house
ALT: a man and a woman are standing outside of a house
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John Curtis @johncurtis.bsky.social · 25/02/2025
The uncorrected transcript of the PM's Commons statement and questions after is now up hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025... There's also an press release from Downing Street www.gov.uk/government/n...
hansard.parliament.uk
Defence and Security - Hansard - UK Parliament
Hansard record of the item : 'Defence and Security' on Tuesday 25 February 2025.
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John Curtis @johncurtis.bsky.social · 25/02/2025
A plug for some Commons Library briefings that might be helpful regarding the announcements today on defence & aid spending 1) a briefing looking at the reduction in UK aid spending to 0.5% of GNI, and what this has meant for aid spending commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
commonslibrary.parliament.uk
UK aid: spending reductions since 2020 and outlook from 2024/25
UK aid spending has fallen to 0.5% of gross national income. What has this meant for aid spending, and what plans has the government set out?
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John Curtis @johncurtis.bsky.social · 25/02/2025
Lots to think about in the Prime Minister’s statement just now. The announcement of a new national security strategy to be published in June is big. This will bring together the Strategic Defence Review & other “relevant reviews”. Presume this will include the China audit currently taking place
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John Curtis @johncurtis.bsky.social · 15/02/2025
on.ft.com/3EG3xR4 Who will defend Europe?
on.ft.com
Who will defend Europe?
Caught between an aggressive Russia and a disengaging America, the continent’s western democracies must now rearm — or pay the price
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Emily Fry @emilyfry.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
2024 FULL YEAR UK TRADE DATA from ONS is out today Goods exports fell 5.1% 2023-2024, while imports declined 0.5%, reflecting weakness in manufacturing In contrast, services exports rose 3.4% Y-o-Y & services imports grew 3.3%, reflecting robust services output A thread...
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John Curtis @johncurtis.bsky.social · 02/02/2025
May have to add “I’m not the junior senator for Utah” soon to my bio as starting to get more tags into posts 😝
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John Curtis @johncurtis.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
Loved Georgina's first book - Bad Data: How Governments, Politicians and the Rest of Us Get Misled by Numbers. Looking forward to reading this one!
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John Curtis @johncurtis.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
Work has been busy so I've been a bit quiet on here. Looks like a new influx of joiners/followers - welcome all. Follow for insights on the UK Parliament, and on international affairs/defence. I focus- if you can call it that when it's such huge swathe of the globe - on Asia & the Americas.
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John Curtis @johncurtis.bsky.social · 09/01/2025
Hilary Benn has commissioned an independent review into the functioning of the Windsor Framework, led by former NI SoS Lord Murphy. The review was required after the consent vote in December only passed with a simple majority in the NI Assembly questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat...
questions-statements.parliament.uk
Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament
Information from UK Parliament on written questions & answers, written statements and daily reports.
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John Curtis @johncurtis.bsky.social · 09/01/2025
Interesting post on Westminster Hall debates, useful material for the Modernisation Committee perhaps. Interesting to hear thoughts about the future of these debates
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John Curtis @johncurtis.bsky.social · 09/01/2025
I missed this yesterday- Olly Robbins has been made Permanent Secretary at the FCDO www.gov.uk/government/n...
gov.uk
New Permanent Under-Secretary Appointed at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Sir Oliver (Olly) Robbins has been appointed as the new Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
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John Curtis @johncurtis.bsky.social · 08/01/2025
Has anyone heard anything about when the FCDO's annual human rights and democracy report is going to come out? Normally published in the summer but has been released in November/December in some years. Last one was published in July 2023. www.gov.uk/government/c...
gov.uk
Human Rights and Democracy Reports
Reports on the activities of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) to promote human rights abroad.
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John Curtis @johncurtis.bsky.social · 07/01/2025
Not the Financial Times. Is it just me that detests the term "lawmaker" for Member of Parliament/Representative etc?
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John Curtis @johncurtis.bsky.social · 06/01/2025
Well, I’ve just learned what prorogue is in French. Au revoir Monsieur Trudeau
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Sophie Pedder @sophiepedder.bsky.social · 05/01/2025
Of the top 50 favourite French personalities of 2024, only two are politicians…Marine Le Pen (11th place, up from 61st in 2023) and Jordan Bardella (10th, up from 30th) @ifop.bsky.social poll
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Jeppe Mulich @jmulich.bsky.social · 30/12/2024
Taiwan scholars: I'm updating my History and Politics of Modern China UG syllabus before term start and would like to beef up the readings on Taiwan a bit. Would love recommendations, both for more introductory texts and for more recent research.
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John Curtis @johncurtis.bsky.social · 27/12/2024
I guess one silver lining of being quite ill and alone is I had little guilt in getting a massive amount of gelato delivered to my flat. It also helped my throat (and spirit).
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John Curtis @johncurtis.bsky.social · 26/12/2024
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 🙄
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John Curtis @johncurtis.bsky.social · 25/12/2024
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
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