A short time later, Tom duly replied, and Charlie raised his eyebrows in surprise. Tom had suggested that, instead of tabling an Adjournment Debate, which Charlie would have to wait to do until he’d delivered his maiden speech in the House, Charlie put his name and question forward to go into the ballot for none other than Prime Minister’s Questions. The response wasn’t quite what he’d expected, but he trusted the man’s judgement and decided to go with it. After all, there were few more visible platforms than the one he had suggested, and, if nothing else, it would get his face out there to the public, and his voice known to those who tuned in on the radio. The wording, of course, would have to be checked with Tom, too, but Charlie suddenly felt a frisson of excitement. If he was selected to ask his question, not only would he get his voice heard, but it would garner much-needed publicity for Harry and the other CF patients across the country. Of course, it all depended on the ballot; his question might well not be picked, but it was definitely worth a go to get his name, and the cause, out there. Also, he thought, with some sense of relief, being picked for PMQs was an acceptable substitute for a maiden speech: he’d be free to table an Adjournment Debate later on if he wanted to, having popped his parliamentary cherry.

Charlie paused. As a politician, he needed a healthy dose of pragmatism; it wasn’t always possible to make the decisions people wanted. As a human being, and, more specifically in this case, a close friend (and hopefully, so much more) of the aunt of a CF patient, his heart was telling him he should be shouting his support for the cause for new medication from the rooftops of the House.

Grabbing the notepad from his desk drawer, he began to draft a series of versions of the question he wanted to ask. The wording had to be spot on; neither accusatory that the government had stalled, nor piling blame on the pharmaceutical companies, whom the Health Executive had to work with if the deal for this drug was going to be negotiated successfully. It was harder than he thought to strike the right tone, but this platform was the biggest he was likely to get. And time was short; the deadline was fast approaching. He’d better get a move on.

Back in the old days, it would have been unheard of for a new Member of Parliament to be in a position to ask a question in this form, but thanks to the electronic ballot system, known as the ‘shuffle’, he had as good a chance as any. Or as bad a chance, he thought ruefully. One thing was for sure, if he did get picked for Prime Minister’s Questions, it would be a nerve-wracking, adrenaline-fuelled experience.