The decision on the new Clerk is expected soon. It’s down to three candidates: two women and the next-senior clerk David Natzler.

The pale male is the egregiously superior candidate. Natzler is qualified in procedure, experienced in the intricacies and mysteries of the House. His main liability? Apart from the most unfortunate name in the parliamentary manifest, he’s an old Etonian.

The Speaker has stacked the selection panel to put his preferred candidate in. Speaker Watch believes this to be one Carol Mills, an Australian, currently the parliamentary Head of Administration in Canberra.

However, the House wants Natzler and that may force the Speaker’s hand.