God's Crusade

Part Thirty-Eight

"Oh Robin...do come in and sit down...I am so sorry to keep you waiting for so long old chap," Radcliffe said affably enough, about half an hour later, as Sullivan was shown into his office. He had kept him waiting for over two hours. Robin had to learn his place in life, just like his wife and daughter. Perhaps even more so. Kieran thought it a shame he could not put a guardian in place to look after him, but his own old Principal Private Secretary would have to do. He wanted to teach the younger man his place. Reformism was not to be so lightly dismissed in favour of moderation by people who were just playing games. It offended Radcliffe. He had never been playing games.

"Oh...that's fine Prime Minister...I realise that this is a busy time..." Robin blustered, and Kieran smiled at the change in him, as if someone had popped his balloon, reminding himself that information truly was power. Chris Slade deserved a raise. His ability to hack into files and servers he was not supposed too was worth its weight in gold.

"Well as you know I am talking to people about the Cabinet, and I am going to offer you Health and Education...on the basic condition that you behave. I will debate policy with you behind closed doors until the cows come home, if you so desire, but I want nothing negative in public, is that clear?"

"Yes, Prime Minister."

"And your family is to follow the doctrine. No short cuts. It is for your own good, Robin...I really am giving you the career you always wanted, but you do have to grow up if you want to play with the big boys. How are things at home?"

"I...if I may...I really would prefer to employ our own guardian, Prime Minister. I do...I do understand your...conditions...and I can assure you that..."

"Miss Carpenter is non-negotiable."

"But..."

"Oh dear Robin...I really do hope you aren't going to be so...weak...on this issue? I cannot entrust my old department to a grown man who cannot...or will not...control his own wife and daughter. If you stop crying into your pillows and start living the Reformist dream you might actually start to enjoy yourself...and the law that you voted for is on your side."

"My wife and daughter knew nothing about my past activities..."

"Good...but unfortunately I know everything about your past, Robin...and whilst I need you to convince your lily-livered liberal acolytes that they have a seat at the top table, I am never going to let you off the leash. You either learn to trot at my side like a good loyal friend, or I have to put you down and find another one. So be a good boy and learn to live with Miss Carpenter please. She is my cousin twice removed, or something tedious like that, but she is highly qualified in her field, and a really very entertaining correspondent to boot...she will work wonders with dear Imogen and Charlotte, I am sure."

۩

"The King is dead, long live the King...Kieran Radcliffe has sprung some major surprises in his first Cabinet, initially prompted by Peter Munroe's surprising decision to follow Sir Charles Buckingham into retirement," Mark Broad, a BBC reporter, said, speaking to camera for the evening news. "Although both Munroe and Radcliffe were at pains to emphasise that they are still the best of friends. In truth, after fifteen years in government, the old guard are largely making way for the next generation, and the new Prime Minister, the bridge between the two as it were, is embracing the opinions of some of the next generation to him by including Robin Sullivan in his old position as Minister for Health and Education. Radcliffe's challenge is to maintain what he calls the 'positive momentum of the renaissance' whilst embracing some talented members of his party with obvious moderate tendencies. In the early days of the Buckingham years there was an honest admission that in its first phase the renaissance would be harsh on some members of society but there is internal discussion about it being time to enter a second phase. No one has been sacked...this is being presented as a natural transition from one era to another...but it remains to be seen what influence this new breed of Reformist will have on policy going forwards."