The great warhorse that is Simon Burns is putting himself into the race for the Deputy Speakers post.
This is most definitely a Friday afternoon blog but the role of the duty speaker is crucially important to the working of the House of Commons, and both Lindsay Hoyle and Nigel Evans did a great job before Nigel had to stand down.
We face a parliamentary vote on Burms v Dorries v Laing v Binley. All capable, and Laing would be a very popular choice, but none match Simon Burns knowledge of the Commons and quiet humour. He was famously the only health minister I have heard of with a 20 a day smoking habit. He remains a devotee of Hilary Clinton. I do not buy any of the arguments that he and the Speaker could not work together. The Commons is a great leveller.
