‘Goodness knows where the press dig these things up, of course.’

‘Indeed. Almost certainly from the Saudis, I imagine. Someone probably had the evidence sat in a safe in Riyadh for six years ready to use at the right moment.’

Which is nearly true, thought Thomas. Only the evidence hadn’t been sat in a safe in Riyadh for the last six years, but the private safe in Thomas’s own London flat. One of the perks of being a former chief whip was that it allowed the accumulation of useful data on friends and colleagues. He wished now he’d waited a few days for maximum impact in the media – but he was not to know the NRF were planning to blow up Leeds on Friday.

‘Is he going to step down?’ said Hogarth.

‘Not immediately, Lesley, not his style. That would be taken as an admission of impropriety, particularly at a time of national crisis. He’ll want to wait, get the feelers from the backbenchers and constituency chair.’

‘And then?’

‘And then he’ll almost certainly step down in a few weeks in the interest of national unity.’

‘What we don’t want, Ben, is a lame duck at a time of national crisis. Look at the mess out there. Muslims picketing primary schools. Soldiers getting attacked in the street. Gangs of youths holding their communities to ransom. We need strong leadership now.’

‘I’m in no position to persuade him to do anything right now, Lesley.’

Hogarth paused. Here it comes, thought Thomas. Here comes the threat.

‘I agree that you are not in any position to do anything more,’ she said. ‘And yes, the PM is unlikely to step down off his own back. But the party might be persuaded to force his hand if they thought the stability of the coalition was at stake.’

‘You’d do that? You’d threaten to pull it all down?’

‘If he doesn’t go, then yes, damn it, Ben, I would.’

Thomas tried to keep the smile out of his voice. ‘And then what?’

‘Well, constitutionally, the post goes to the next most senior member of the cabinet. Which is you.’

‘And would that particular line of succession be enough to keep the coalition in place, Lesley?’

‘Of course it would.’

‘Without any conditions?’

There was a pause. ‘One. The Freedom Bill. I want it introduced in three months. The public are angry, and they want leaders willing to stand up and protect our way of life. No compromises. That’s the deal-breaker for my members.’

Thomas looked out of the window overlooking the lane. An elderly couple, faces muffled with grey scarves, were being dragged along the path by a chocolate Labrador. The woman spotted the Home Secretary and waved through the reinforced glass. He raised an arm in salute. He didn’t recognise them – maybe they’d taken the holiday cottage by the stream for the weekend. Poor sods.

‘I’m back in town tomorrow,’ he said. ‘Come to the office at four. But use the back entrance.’