Charlie swallowed hard; he had five questions to wait before he could ask his, and every second that passed, the butterflies seemed to be breeding in his stomach. Trying to breathe normally, he focused his attention on the Prime Minister, attempting to tune out the rumbles of dissension that greeted the first couple of questions. He didn’t dare look up at the Public Gallery in case he lost the thread of the process, but he could almost feel Holly’s eyes upon him. He hoped he was going to make her proud.

Holly looked over the crowded Commons Chamber and smiled as she observed Charlie. He was sitting with his back ramrod straight, his hands loosely placed in his lap, but the gestures seemed conscious; she knew he was nervous. And no wonder. This was not only a public forum in terms of the amount of people in the chamber itself, but also those in the Public Gallery, which was packed, and it was being simultaneously broadcast on at least two national radio stations, as well as the BBC News channel, Sky News and BBC Parliament.

As a student, she’d been glued to the weekly parliamentary soap opera on the radio, the way that other students had watched Neighbours, and to see it unfolding live in front of her was a real treat. All of the big beasts were there, and although she knew that it was primarily a forum for public broadcasting rather than policy these days, she couldn’t help but feel a frisson of excitement, seeing the Prime Minister, the Home Secretary, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and their shadow counterparts sitting opposite them on the benches.

But time after time her gaze was drawn back to Charlie, sitting patiently, waiting his turn. He probably didn’t realise that when he was nervous his right foot tapped slightly. Apart from that, though, he seemed remarkably composed. She felt as though she was willing him on in a race as the third and fourth questions were asked. The fifth, on funding for Early Years Centres, generated howls of derision at the PM’s response, and for a long, agonising moment, the voice of the Speaker fought to retain order in the chamber. Holly held her breath.

‘Charlie Thorpe!’ the Speaker cut over the top of the rabble-rousing of the chamber and Holly watched, still holding her breath, as Charlie got to his feet.