Kompromat

‘I have just chaired a meeting of the Cabinet,’ the prime minister began, ‘where we agreed that the government should call a general election, to be held on June 8th.

‘I want to explain the reasons for that decision. What will happen next, and the choice facing the British people when you come to vote in this election.

‘Last summer, after the country voted to leave the European Union, Britain needed certainty, stability and strong leadership, and since I became prime minister the government has delivered precisely that.

‘Britain is leaving the European Union and there can be no turning back’.

Selkirk noticed that President Popov had been following a script on his mobile phone, all the time the PM was speaking.

Popov nodded, evidently pleased that there were no departures from the CHECK ON DELIVERY text he had in front of him.

Mabel Killick was coming to the end:

‘The Liberal Democrats have said they want to grind the business of government to a standstill.

‘The Scottish National Party says they will vote against the legislation that formally repeals Britain’s membership of the European Union.

‘And unelected members of the House of Lords have vowed to fight us every step of the way.

‘Our opponents believe that because the government’s majority is so small, our resolve will weaken and that they can force us to change course.

‘They are wrong.

‘They underestimate our determination to get the job done and I am not prepared to let them endanger the security of millions of working people across the country.

‘Because what they are doing jeopardises the work we must do to prepare for Brexit at home, and it weakens the government’s negotiating position in Europe.

‘That is why I am calling for a general election on June 8th.’

When the PM had finished, Popov put his phone away, smiling with satisfaction. ‘Word perfect. Couldn’t have put it better myself,’ he said.

President Popov was in a reflective mood. ‘We may have thought Brexit was in the bag last June, Mickey, but we still needed to nail it. And that’s what Mabel Killick has done today. Of course, I will give her all the help she needs. I expect you will too. But frankly, I’d say, that at this point in time, she has it in the bag!’

Ching Ze-Dong was puzzled. His instructions had been very clear. ‘If Popov refuses Selkirk’s offer, use spider. If he accepts offer, leave spider in box.’

Oh dear, Ching thought, what should he do? The instructions might have been precise, but the problem was he couldn’t work out what answer Popov was actually giving in response to Selkirk’s intriguing proposal.

When Selkirk had offered him the job of president and CEO of Selkirk Global, Popov had just said, ‘Interesting. Very interesting indeed.’

But what did that mean? Did it mean ‘yes’, or did it mean ‘no’?

Ching took the little wooden box from the crate in the storeroom and shook it gently. Yes, the spider was still there. Just as well they had given him two, he thought.

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

Mrs Killick was well pleased by the slant the media put on her decision to call an election. ‘Strong and stable PM seeks personal mandate!’ The Daily News thundered. The London Echo printed a full-page photo of the PM with the caption ‘The New Iron Lady!’ The Selkirk Press went to town, offering unsubtle suggestions about the priorities she should pursue, apart from clinching Brexit. ‘Slash foreign aid’ and ‘Scrap environmental burdens’ being two of the most prominent.