His neck quivered, causing her to wince inwardly. She also disliked his un-ironic use of the presidential acronym, one of his other less attractive features being his fondness for diminutives and nicknames to denote new best friends.

Farmer ploughed on. At least he didn’t mince his words. ‘Understood, Prime Minister. But the fact remains that, with an election five months away, the other figures are troubling.’

‘But, as you say, the sample is just the party faithful. They’re always at their worst when there’s a bit of bother on the streets.’

This was too much for Garvey. ‘Geoff, really, you can’t go around downplaying what’s uppermost in people’s minds right now.’

‘I know, I know. It’s just a turn of phrase. You know me, never knowingly overstated.’

And this with half the country going up in flames. He really was the limit.

Farmer looked up from the pages of figures perched on his knee. He had evidently detected an unexpected ally in his midst. ‘Well, to the home secretary’s point, there’s a further question in the same sample it’s worth drawing your attention to.’

‘Go on. Hit me while I’m down.’

‘Eighty-five per cent of those polled said they believed that Vernon Rolt’s call for a crackdown on suspected terrorists should be heeded by the government.’

‘Oh, for God’s sake—’

‘And if I could just finish? Sixty-five per cent of them said they would vote for the opposition if they were to adopt the same measures.’

‘Well, bollocks to that as well. Five months is a very long time in politics.’

Farmer wasn’t backing down. ‘We can’t overlook it. The party chairman has been onto us about it.’

‘Well, he can sod off.’

The PM got up and started moving round the room, fiddling with his many knick-knacks – evidence of his supposed popularity in various parts of the world the voters weren’t interested in – but Farmer wasn’t to be deflected. Garvey braced herself for what was coming.

‘Look, just as a holding measure, how about a meeting – you and Rolt? Nothing formal, just so we can get a photo of you together. You don’t have to show your hand, just listen to him for ten minutes.’

The PM didn’t seem to be paying attention. Farmer added: ‘All right, five. It might help check the rumour that you’re not receptive to fresh ideas.’

The PM’s face was very shiny now. ‘It’s his ideas I’m not bloody receptive to. I’ve nailed my colours to the multicultural mast and I’m not taking them down, especially for that – I know it’s terrible what happened to his hostel and after all he’s done for our boys and so on, but I refuse to be associated with a proponent of deportation. Derek, I’m disappointed in you. Sarah, where do you stand on Mr Rolt?’