Where Serpents Slither

Chapter Five

A/N: Picture of corridors in the Palace of Westminster ( Houses of Parliament)

'From Scotland, Henry. The Scots will pay for it and we will negotiate the cost with them as part of their contribution to the national debt. Not all of their due liability to the debt, but a part of it. The plan will, therefore, deal with the rift in the party, the problem of UKIP, the Irish uncertainties, Scottish Independence, Trident and the unpopular HS2 rail system to which we are committed, but cannot afford.'

Loud guffaws greeted his words.

'And pigs will fly, no doubt.'

'Whatever is David smoking these days I wonder?'

'Preposterous.'

Gilbert Strang rose from his seat, opening his hands in a benevolent gesture to encourage togetherness.

'Gentlemen, gentlemen, and now I shall tell you how we are going to do it.' He poured the remainder of the wine in the decanter, sharing it between the four glasses.

'London, Ulster and Scotland alone returned a majority for remaining in the EU. Scotland now proposes independence from the UK so it can seek to stay in the EU. We should allow it – but let them also take London and Northern Ireland into independence with them, in a new country within the EU called Britannia. A nation separate from the remainder of England and Wales, which will reform itself into a new and independent country outside of the EU called Albion. Both countries will be members of the Commonwealth.'

Sir Gilbert held up his hands for silence and waited patiently until the outbursts of anger, disbelief and outrage subsided.

'Madness, absolute madness'

'Unthinkable! London, separated from England, but joined with Scotland. Never.'

'Who in Hell's name came up with this monstrosity?'

Strang answered the last question in a soft voice that commanded silence.

'It was Lord X's idea.'

He waited for a few seconds for comments from his colleagues, who sat open mouthed and stunned into silence; with no questions forthcoming, he continued.

'Every body who is fully "in the know" is aware that the UK cannot exist as a major power outside of the EU. Nor can it be as secure or as prosperous as it would be inside a reformed EU. Our political masters are adamant this Brexit vote must be acted upon and Article 50 will be invoked by the new PM in September. It's a matter of a short time only before this becomes a stark reality and the detailed negotiations with the EU commenced, terminating with the UK leaving the EU within two years. That is the maximum time window open to the UK as of right. Meanwhile, we urgently needed to find an expediency to allow those wishing to remain in the EU to do so, while permitting those areas of the UK wishing to leave to attain their desires. Lord X argued that since the UK would be dismantled in part by the secession of Scotland, did it matter overmuch if the other territories wishing to remain in the EU were ceded to Scotland as a means of delivering the majority vote in London and Ulster. ...After the passage of a fairly short period of time, the world will see the UK leaving the EU as a gross mistake. There will be public clamour and outrage resulting in Albion seeking to rejoin Britannia within the EU and by doing so achieves the reassembly of the UK as we know it today. By allowing London, Scotland and Ulster to remain in the EU from the outset we will preserve our hard won EU rebate and other important financial arrangements for when we rejoin the EU as a United Kingdom once more under Article 49 of the Lisbon Treaty. These are significant benefits that would otherwise be lost to us on leaving the EU unless preserved through Britannia in the EU. The HS2 rail project will be an important link to the three areas of Britannia while it exists. A spur to Liverpool or Anglesey to better serve Northern Ireland could be laid should it be needed.'

'But ... but how can this happen constitutionally. Has the Queen been advised of the plan. What does she have to say about all of this?'

'Her Majesty has not been consulted, but David has spoken with a senior member of the Royal family, who is in tacit agreement with the plan. While Albion and Britannia exist as independent countries, the monarch will continue as the Head of State of both nations.'

Giles Bamforth shook his head. 'The mechanics of the thing cannot possibly work. The seat of government for the UK and this Albion creature is here in London – the buildings, the civil servants, the infrastructure of government is here and it's mostly in Edinburgh for the Scots. It cannot work on practical grounds.'

'Oh but it can Giles. We can rent the government buildings from Britannia, even sharing them with Britannia for those facilities and structures they don't have in Edinburgh. Government and the Civil Service will continue as before – just as if nothing has changed.

Bamforth shook his head. 'However will the composition of Albion be decided? Which counties will it absorb along with Wales?'

Strang rubbed his hands together. 'Good question Giles. London in Britannia will consist geographically of the area inside the M25 plus the southern part of Hertfordshire, the western part of Essex, the northern part of Kent, the whole of Surrey and the eastern part of Buckinghamshire and parts of Berkshire. We have to draw a line so that Windsor Castle lies in Albion and Heathrow and Stansted airports are in Britannia.'

'Albion will have Gatwick I take it, but will need another airport in the south.'

'You are right Giles and we are looking at reopening RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire as a civilian airport for that purpose.'

'What will be the defence arrangements, and how will it affect our Nato obligations?'