‘Todd was using you to bounce Neville into a tax change we haven’t agreed and that hasn’t gone to shadow cabinet.’

‘Thanks for the tip. Makes the story stronger. Todd overrules Shadow Chancellor. Nice one.’

‘Fuck off. Why did you ask the question?’

Her face is too close to mine. I’m inhaling lungfuls of Jo Malone’s English Pear & Freesia.

‘I’ve been looking at the whole dividend tax credit thing. You must have seen Jess’s piece on it?’ She’s halfway buying it. ‘It’s free money, for God’s sake. Why wouldn’t you do it?’

She snorts.

‘That’s not a denial.’

‘I’m not in the mood for silly buggers, Gil. We’ll look at our options, and if the Shadow Chancellor thinks they’re sound, then and only then will they become Labour policy.’

She steams back to the auditorium. I head for the street. I’m three paces beyond the door when the silver Nokia rings. I look at the number and sigh.

‘Are you going to give me a bollocking as well?’

‘And it’s lovely to hear your voice, too,’ says Marilyn. ‘Are you in trouble again?’

‘I’ve just been mugged by Jane.’

‘Poor you. Did she crush you between her muscle-bound thighs?’

‘Christ! Does your sexism ever worry you?’

‘Not especially.’

I spy Walters and Tudor deep in conversation across the other side of the road.

‘She accused me of being your lackey and trying to bounce Tudor into a pensions raid.’

‘You couldn’t have done it better if I had asked you. You were magnificent.’

I don’t like the compliment. ‘She also implied she knows about our extra-curricular activities.’

‘That’s standard Jane Walters mind games.’

I’m not reassured. ‘Is there a risk people are talking about us?’

She clicks her tongue. ‘I don’t think so. But that’s not why I rang. I’ve got you what you wanted.’

My mind is temporarily blank.

‘The interview with Johnny? The one you woke me up for? Don’t tell me you don’t want it any more. I’ve got a queue of your panting competitors.’

The first big interview of the campaign with the leader of the Opposition? If I don’t bugger it up, it’ll drive the news agenda for days. ‘That’s amazing. When?’

‘His house, Tufnell Park, 9.30 Monday morning.’

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Monday, 24 March – 38 days until Election Day

ONE OF THE PERKS OF North London life is that the biggest story in British politics is happening on my doorstep. From my flat, it’s a short bike ride down the Holloway Road and then left to the Victorian villas of Lady Margaret Road.