Free See You at the Show by Michelle Betham

Hebridian heritage, he was masterminding Daniel’s forthcoming leadership campaign.   He was a master of spin, and he knew more than anyone how capable Daniel was of not only winning the Leadership Election, but of also winning the General Election.   He was the kind of person Daniel needed by his side as things moved forward, and Daniel was very much aware of that.
    “Angus, how are you?”
    “Have you got the TV on, Daniel?”   Angus’s voice was more than a little excited, and Daniel knew that he never got excited without good reason.
    “No...”
    “Then switch it onto a news channel now, quickly!”
    Daniel reached out and picked up the remote control that lay next to his laptop, pointing it at the large flat screen TV on the wall.   It leapt into life, already tuned to the rolling news channel he very rarely switched off.
    “Are you watching?” Angus asked.
    “Yes.   I’m watching it now.”   Daniel sat down on the edge of his desk, watching as Andrew Mitchell stood outside his West London home in front   of a sea of photographers and journalists, announcing the one thing Daniel Madison had waited months to hear.   That he was officially resigning as Leader of the Opposition with immediate effect.   He hoped the job of finding his replacement would be a quick affair and that his party would be up and running with a new leader sooner rather than later, ready to head forward into the much anticipated General Election.
    “It’s going to be a quick campaign, Daniel,” Angus said as Daniel continued to watch Andrew Mitchell give his final speech.   “So, are we ready to move fast with this?”
    “Yes.   Yes, we are.   Angus, how many other candidates are we looking at here?”
    “Could be up to five I reckon.   But we’ve got the strongest chance, Daniel; we’ve got the most support.   We’ll have the signatures and the backing we need before the week’s out.   And you’ll walk any of the hustings, I have no doubt about that.”
    Daniel could feel his stomach turning with an excitement he hadn’t felt in a long time.   This was it.   It was really happening.   He couldn’t think of anything he wanted more than this.   It was the beginning of his ultimate dream, his goal, his life’s ambition.   And it was starting to happen right now.
    Angus’s voice broke into his thoughts.   “So, we can announce you’re throwing your hat into the ring for the leadership this afternoon then?”
    Daniel stood up and went back over to the window, glancing out across the River Thames and the view he never tired of.
    “Yes.   We can definitely announce that Angus.   Let’s get the ball rolling as soon as possible.”
    “Good man.   We’re going to do this, Daniel.   You’ve got it in the bag, I’m certain of it.”
    “I hope you’re right.”
    “Nobody else comes close.   We’ll talk over lunch, ok?   Is 1.30 alright for you?”
    “That’s fine.   I’ll see you then, Angus, and thanks.”
    Daniel hung up the ‘phone and turned round as Amy walked into the office carrying another pile of post.
    “Is everything ok, Mr. Madison?”
    A smile slowly spread across Daniel’s handsome face and she couldn’t help smiling too.
    “Everything’s fine, Amy.   Everything’s more than fine.   Andrew Mitchell’s finally resigned!   He’s done it, and you know what that means don’t you?”
    She couldn’t help laughing.   His excitement was almost contagious.   “I think I do, yes.”
    He walked over to Amy, catching her in an unexpected, uncharacteristic, but not entirely unwanted hug.
    “It means you could be looking at the new Leader of the Opposition, Amy.   And maybe, just maybe, one day, the Prime Minister himself!”
    “You deserve this, Mr. Madison.   You really do.”
    Daniel let go of her, running back round behind his desk and sitting down, switching on his computer.
    “Can you cancel any appointments I’ve got for this morning?   And I’m going to have a