Where Serpents Slither

Chapter Three

A/N: Picture of the Terracotta State Room, showing the double doors to the adjacent Pillared State Room

'We are facing a constitutional crisis the like of which this nation has not faced outside of war since the Glorious Revolution of 1688 which gave the nation its Bill of Rights.'

Absolute hush greeted his words.

'The PM has asked me whom in the Civil Service can be trusted absolutely to deliver the best interests of the country at all times and in any circumstance. Gentlemen, I gave him your names, ... and only your names.'

He paused to allow the murmurings and knee slapping of pleased surprise to subside.

'David asked me to meet with you here this evening to avail you of his plan for the future and to seek your cooperation to ensure it is delivered. The very existence of our island nation depends upon the success of this plan. I have pledged my support and, even before you know what is afoot, I am asking you to pledge yours ...If you feel unable to do so before learning any more, you are at liberty to go, in which case, please leave the room now.'

Bamforth grumbled. 'And leave you three with what might be the last Petrus '82 in the country. Not on your life. I'm staying.'

Armitage whined. 'I do hope you'll not be long getting to your point Gilbert. Helen has arranged a bridge party with the Clarke's tonight and I dare not be late home.'

Moore asserted. 'I'm a bit pushed for time as well Gilbert. We have a meeting scheduled for tomorrow with Netanyahu and his Israeli delegation. I have to make sure the government team are adequately prepped.'

Strang smiled wryly. All three had pledged him their support in their own inimitable fashion.

'Thank you gentlemen: the PM and I knew we could rely upon you. Please help yourself to the comestibles while I tell you a story – but I'll not begin before I sample the superb chocolate, spice and truffles taste of winemaker Maneix's masterpiece.' He stood and raised his glass. 'Gentlemen, the Queen and The Service.'

Three voices repeated the toast and all four men drank deeply from their glasses. 'The Queen and The Service.'

Once seated, Moore replenished their glasses and they waited patiently for Sir Gilbert to collect his thoughts and address them.

'Friends we have to discuss the future and form of the nation and the Civil Service after the UK leaves the European Union. To save time, I would be obliged if you try to keep your questions and comments until I have finished.' Silence reigned while he spoke.

'Soon after the PM returned from his meetings in Brussels last February, a meeting of the inner circle of the Notting Hill group of conservatives and a prominent guest met in this room to discuss the concessions he had obtained from Europe and the details of the In/Out referendum that would now follow. They were The PM, London Mayor Boris Johnson and Justice Secretary Michael Gove. The guest was a senior, veteran member of the Labour Party whom we shall refer to as Lord X.' Strang stopped to sip his wine.

'The firm belief of all four of them on that February night was of a 'remain in the EU' vote as the outcome of the referendum. However, that result would not eradicate the widening split over Europe in both the Conservative and Labour parties, or the increasingly anxious problem of UKIP stealing votes from Conservative and Labour held constituencies. Gentlemen, they foresaw that a 'remain' vote would not see the disappearance of the party splits or the UKIP electoral disease. Without treatment, any disease would progress until it ended only in a fatality. The question they considered was, "what treatment would best heal the party splits and purge the cancer of UKIP"?' Strang sipped more wine, dabbed his lips with his handkerchief and resumed speaking.

'David has had enough of front-line politics and intends to hand over the harness of leadership before the end of this Parliament. Boris will be his most likely successor. Mr. Johnson doesn't like the EU, but he understands the need for the UK to be a full and active member of the single market. A 'remain' vote in the referendum therefore, would not enhance his prospects as a future leader in a party heavily split over Europe, and he would not be the man to heal that split if he campaigned to remain in Europe. I repeat, there was an absolute certitude among them that night of a 'remain' outcome of the referendum. For Boris to succeed later, and for him to have a chance of healing the rift in the party, he would need to enhance his position by campaigning in the referendum as a 'Leaver', together with Michael Gove as his campaign manager. That was the essence of the plan decided at the meeting on that February night.'

Moore raised a finger to interject. 'But that doesn't address the problem of UKIP.'

'No it doesn't and Peter – I mean Lord X – raised that very point. It would take time and since Boris would be seen as an ardent 'Leaver' during the campaign, he could subsequently be relied upon to pursue and progress reforms in the EU to the satisfaction of the winning 'remainers.' Each and every reform he obtained for our membership of the EU should result in a natural diminution of the appeal of UKIP to the electorate. In time UKIP would be consumed by its own cancer leading to its eventual disappearance.'

'But this wretched Brexit happened. We didn't get a 'remain' vote in the bloody referendum.' Armitage waved an empty wineglass at Strang as a gesture of his frustration.

'Quite so Henry. The "Out" vote, however, was not unforeseen and led to another meeting of the Notting Hill Four on the 22nd of June, the night before polling day. There was an eleventh hour realisation among them that no matter what facts or figures were represented to the electorate, the public saw a vote to remain in the EU as a vote for the continuance of the status quo and that was unacceptable to the majority of voters. The unthinkable became thinkable; the prospect of a leave vote emerged as a ghastly probability. The public had suffered enough of standing still. Boris and his 'Leave' campaign had done too good a job; they offered the public a more forward facing alternative and one that was far removed from the stagnant and austere present. The electorate might well vote for it on the 23rd – and they did!'

'Excuse me Gilbert,' Bamforth scratched his ear and his eyes clouded in confusion. 'So what did the PM and this group decide to do in the event of a rogue vote to leave the EU?'