Common Sense

Colin Wreford

Description

Absolute power corrupts...absolutely.The year is 2029. Prime Minister Bob Godwin and his brand new political party have just been elected on a manifesto of eliminating crime. This has been heard before, but they've convinced the public that they will make it happen by any means necessary. All good in theory, until harsh penalties are introduced. The death penalty and corporal punishment are reintroduced and all sexual relationships except heterosexual marriages are banned.Sara Molan, an ambitious TV presenter, takes a stand and gets sucked in, intertwining her personal and professional lives with this political upheaval. As a result, the PM, already lost to his obsessive crusade against crime, starts entertaining dark thoughts about the advantages of power and his lust for Sara.As protests increase and punishments become even more severe, the Prime Minister's actions veer between eccentricity and downright bizarre. Can he overcome the opposition of former colleague David McDougall and manipulate Sara into helping him retain power for another 5 years? Can Bob Godwin keep the country, the media and opposition politicians at bay and continue to impose his will on the country? As the pressure rises violence becomes inevitable. Who will survive the dramatic conclusion? Set across five years, Common Sense questions how much faith we should put in our government and how much faith they should have in themselves. What started as good intentions can quickly make them veer onto the path to hell...

Sujets

• Political
• Politics

Informations

• Publié par: Troubador Publishing Ltd
• Date de parution: 28 janvier 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781800466937
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

Copyright © 2022 Colin Wreford

The moral right of the author has been asserted.

Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of research or private study, or criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, this publication may only be reproduced, stored or transmitted, in any form or by any means, with the prior permission in writing of the publishers, or in the case of reprographic reproduction in accordance with the terms of licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside those terms should be sent to the publishers.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

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ISBN 9781800466937

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Matador® is an imprint of Troubador Publishing Ltd

I dedicate this book to my late parents – Jack and Betty – for their life-long love and support. I am sure they are watching me proudly from above.


Contents
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS


CHAPTER 1
2029 GENERAL ELECTION
May 2029
“Hello, my name is Sara Molan, and welcome to the morning show dedicated to yesterday’s general election here in the UK. For those of you who have not been with us all night, I will start by announcing the results so far. There are two Northern Ireland seats that have not yet declared, but I can announce that the UK has a new prime minister and a brand new party in control of the House of Commons. Yes, the Common Sense Party has broken the mould of British politics with a resounding victory, claiming 400 seats. This leaves the Conservatives and the Labour Party with ninety-nine seats each. Common Sense will have an overall majority in the House of Commons. Shortly, I hope to be talking to my revered broadcasting colleague, David McDougall, the joint leader of the new ruling party and, presumably, our next prime minister. In the meantime, I will hand you over to my regional colleagues to discuss the results where you live.”
Once off air for a few minutes, Sara seeks clarification from her floor manager about the next segment of the programme.
“Well, the good news is that the new prime minister is in the building, so you can interview him as soon as we go back on air,” says the floor manager. “The bad news is that you are going to have to think on your feet.”
Sara looks puzzled. “I’ve worked with David for years. He’s not going to faze me just because he’s the prime minister.”
“That’s the problem. Bob Godwin has come in saying he’s taking charge of Common Sense, and I don’t know what you know about him, but the rest of us know sod all.”
As the floor manager finishes speaking, a group of people enter the studio. In the middle of the group, almost hidden by bodyguards and armed police, is Bob Godwin.
“Two minutes to air time,” is the message in Sara’s earphones as she returns to her chair.
The floor manager eases Bob Godwin into the other seat at the news desk.
“Why are you here and not David?” Sara asks Mr Godwin as her earphones give her the message that she is on air in one minute.
“Because I am now the sole leader of the Common Sense Party and have been asked to form the next government,” he replies.
“Right, well, we’re on air in twenty seconds, so we’ll just have to wing it,” Sara confirms to her guest, and then she immediately addresses the viewers. “Welcome back to the morning programme looking at the results of yesterday’s general election. I have a very special guest with me this morning: the new Prime Minster of the UK, Mr Robert Godwin.” Turning to her guest, Sara continues seamlessly, “Mr Godwin, welcome to the studio, and congratulations on your party’s resounding success. My first question – as many of our audience would be expecting to see my colleague David McDougall in that chair – is could you explain who is taking charge of the party and the country?”
“Hello Sara and hello to all the viewers. Yes, I would like to thank everyone who has placed their votes and faith in the Common Sense Party. I can assure you that everyone in the party will do everything possible to deliver our manifesto promises and sort out the many problems facing this great country. David and I have been joint leaders since the party was formed just three years ago. He has done a superb job in fronting our general election campaign, but obviously, there can only be one prime minister, and I am delighted to say that the executive committee has decided overnight that I should now have the honour of leading the party on my own. I have been to Buckingham Palace earlier today and have been invited by King Charles the Third to form the next government.”
“Perhaps, then, you could tell the viewers something about yourself?”
“Well, I was born in Plymouth, Devon, and am an only child. I left school at sixteen and started work selling second-hand cars for someone else before setting up my own car-sales business in Plymouth. I sold that three years ago, and I have concentrated on politics ever since. I am fifty-one years old and divorced, with no children that I am aware of. I am simply delighted to have the chance to turn our many brilliant policies into legislation and create a better life for us all.”
“With all due respect, Mr Godwin, running this country is rather more challenging than running a car-sales business.”
“Sara, I strongly disagree with you. The basic principles are the same. There is the need to balance the books and keep the customers happy. At the moment, the economy is still struggling from the eight-year-long Covid-19 pandemic, but I believe we have the policies to get things back on an even keel. Our manifesto states no tax rises, and I am delighted to have the opportunity here and now to confirm that I will honour that promise, along with all the other promises we have made during the campaign.”
“Your manifesto is rather short on details, so perhaps you could tell us your priorities and how you will achieve your aims?”
“The number one priority is to reduce crime, which is running at appalling levels. I have a clear mandate from the electorate to achieve this, and I make a promise today that crime will be reduced by at least 80% by the end of this Parliament. I can confirm a few measures today, but full details will be in the justice bill, which will be put before Parliament as soon as possible. As promised in our manifesto, capital punishment will be reintroduced for all murderers. Corporal punishment will be used in schools and the judicial system. All prison sentences will be served in full, and I shall be building ten new prisons plus twenty new regional punishment centres in the next twelve months. This will provide short- and long-term employment for the construction industry, as well as the prison service. I will also immediately start the process to abolish the unelected House of Lords.”
“Prime Minister, some of those ideas are going to attract massive opposition from pro-life and humanitarian groups, as well as within the House of Lords.”
“Sara, please call me Bob. Frankly, I couldn’t care less what namby-pamby liberals have to say. The British people have clearly stated with their votes that they want a tough approach to crime, and that is exactly what they are going to get. Regarding the House of Lords, our manifesto specifically states that we will be operating a one-chamber system, and I will be abolishing the upper house as a matter of urgency.”
“What about the economy? Where is the money coming from to build all these new prisons?”
“I am very aware that the ordinary people in this country have faced hard times for far too long. I cannot promise immediate improvement, but I will get things back on track. The starting point is to withdraw from Mr Johnson’s ridiculous trade deal with the EU. Then we will be free to take advantage of President Harris’ incredible trade offer, which my predecessor dismissed without a moment’s thought. That is the way forward and remember – no tax rises.”
“May I go back to the start of our conversation and talk briefly about David McDougall? Will he become deputy prime minister or maybe a Cabinet minister?”
“David has, as I have already said, played a huge part in getting this brand new party elected, and he deserves the highest possible appreciation for his efforts. I am not in a position to tell you who will get which job, as I have to give this matter a lot of thought, but, Sara, you will be amongst the very first to know. I think we need to bring this interview to an end now, as I have a lot of work to do to fulfil every one of the manifesto promises.”
“In that case, I hope you will return for another interview when you have completed your choice of ministers.”
“Sara, I must say that I will not be doing interviews or holding press conferences. Any information the Government wishes to convey to the media and, more importantly, the electorate will be contained in regular government pronouncements.”
On that note, Prime Minister Robert “Bob” Godwin takes off his microphone and exits the studio, surrounded by his entourage.
A slightly flummoxed S