‘Try not to piss the PM off,’ Statham said. ‘You’re new, so don’t rock the boat.’ He regarded Charlie levelly. ‘The issue you’re asking about is emotive… a good choice to get your name out there, but bear in mind these things are a constant work in progress. Don’t expect the world to dance to your tune because you asked a question.’

Charlie tried to give what he hoped was a jovial smile. ‘Understood. It’s an issue that affects at least one family in my constituency, though, so it is of legitimate concern on a constituency level.’

‘I’m sure you mean well,’ Statham replied. ‘But policy, as you know from your years as a researcher in this place, is an ever-shifting thing. Don’t pin your hopes on pushing something through when there are multiple interests at stake, especially when it comes to Health and Social Care policy.’

‘I have to try, though,’ Charlie replied. ‘What sort of constituency MP would I be if I didn’t?’

‘Are you sure this is about the cause, or the individuals?’ Statham’s voice dropped as another member wandered over to check his post. ‘You seem to have a very… personal interest in this case, if social media is anything to go by. I’d hate to see you putting yourself out there for a cause that, politically, might come back and bite you in the arse.’

Charlie felt his heartbeat, already elevated at the prospect of raising his question later in the day, speed up even more. ‘I haven’t seen any adverse social media activity,’ he ventured. ‘Just friends having a good time in their constituency.’ There had been one or two shots of him judging the Willowfest fancy-dress competition at the weekend, but, thankfully, none of the more intimate pictures that the tourists had snapped on Willowbury Hill had, as yet, emerged on any social media platform. Sure, he’d had his arm around Holly in one of the post-fancy-dress judging pictures, but it wasn’t as if he’d been caught groping her or anything.

‘So long as that’s all that’s driving this,’ Statham said as he chucked a couple of flyers from his pigeonhole into the recycling bin. ‘Remember, if the policy goes in a different direction to the one you like, as a member of Her Majesty’s Government, you will be duty-bound to support it if it becomes a whipping issue.’ The Whips were the staffers who made sure that, on issues of governmental importance, all party MPs voted with the government’s position, regardless of personal opinion. It could be a tricky issue for a politician driven by principles, but it was the chance you took when you signed up to represent a political party. Those who dissented ran the risk of losing their seats and plunging into obscurity, losing what influence they had if they crossed the floor over a matter of principle.