The Phoenix Project

By Roger Parkes

The 1960s saw great upheaval in the West, with social change giving rise to civil disobedience, no more so than in the student movement. By 1968 the government has become concerned that communism may be a factor and calls on Polly Bottomley for advice. Mrs Bottomley, a retired MP, has unrivalled experience of Soviet conspiracies, having been involved on two occasions with their attempts to conspire, both in Britain and in Europe.

However, her life will be put in grave danger and an emotional and romantic attachment will become a distraction over which she has no control and will change her life forever.

The Phoenix Project paints a vivid picture of how political ambition can be exploited for personal reasons and can soon spiral out of control.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley
• Release date: Dec 13, 2017
• ISBN: 9781788239752

Book preview

About the Author

Educated at Bablake School in Coventry, Roger has a background in engineering, before moving into management with a major chemical company.

He began writing about two years ago and The Pheonix Project

is his fourth novel.

Roger Parkes

The Phoenix Project

Copyright © Roger Parkes (2017)

The right of Roger Parkes to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781788239738 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781788239745 (Hardback)

ISBN 9781788239752 (E-Book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published (2017)

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Chapter 1

There is some post for you, Polly, and one of the letters has a government crest on it.

Mrs Browne, Polly’s housekeeper, hands over the mail to Polly, who is sitting in the study.

Polly thanks her and eyes the letter before opening it. Who can be writing to her from the present government? She cannot imagine. She opens the letter and reads its contents.

Dear Mrs Bottomley,

You may be aware of recent student unrest and violence, both in our country and in Europe. We believe this to be the work of communist activists hell-bent on causing the government embarrassment and we are determined to deal with it fairly but firmly. Your expertise in dealing with the Soviets over many years is well-known and we would appreciate your advice and assistance in any way that you consider appropriate.

With that in mind, I would be most obliged if you could meet with me and my colleagues at the Home Office, on Wednesday next at 11’o clock, if that is convenient. Whilst fully understanding if you decline my invitation, I sincerely hope you will be able to attend.

I am yours most sincerely,

Michael Wellings

Under Secretary

The Home Office.

Polly puts down the letter and ponders over its contents. It has been some five years since she retired from public office and is flattered that the present government would want to speak with her. Whilst she has been busy doing all sorts of ventures since she gave up her role in government and as an MP, she does sometimes miss being involved and making decisions. Her time has been spent helping the local government, being a full-time mother, and she has begun writing her memoirs from a decade of fighting the Soviets.

She has always kept abreast of current and national affairs and has watched the student unrest in Europe manifest itself in Britain. Perhaps there may be a role for her in the socialist administration, but she would have talk it over with Daniel before any decisions are made. He is her rock, as he has been for over 20 years now, even though Polly is still only 34 years old. Daniel is now a deputy director in MI6 and spends most of his time behind a desk in Century House, although he does still get called upon to oversee operations in the field, occasionally. He has had a distinguished career and will, no doubt, be suitably rewarded at the appropriate time. Polly and the children adore him and their life is now quite settled.

William and Susan attend Grammar School, and Richard is expected to join them next year. The children are all very bright, and both Polly and Daniel hope they will go on to university. She is very interested in their education and is an active member in many school activities.

In fact, both schools they attend are grateful for Polly’s input. She has always been a keen fundraiser for both and rarely takes no for an answer!

Daniel arrives home to be met by Polly’s enthusiastic greeting and this time she also has some exciting news.

Daniel, look! I have received a letter from the government.

Polly hands Daniel the letter and he is full of enthusiasm for her.

You are still highly regarded and appreciated Polly. There is still no one that I know of who has more experience of the Russian activities, how they operate and so on than you my dear.

Thank you for that, Daniel, what do you think we should do about their request? I have no desire to go back into politics, you know that. I believe I have done everything I can and want to be a wife and mother, first and foremost.

I don’t think the request is for you to go back into government, Polly. There is concern about the student unrest in Europe, which appears to have found its way across the Channel. Because the unrest is being orchestrated and appears highly organised against governments, there is a consensus that the communists are behind the protests. And you were an expert in Soviet affairs and still know more about how they work than anyone in the current government.

Do you really think I may be able to help?

Yes, I do, and I think you should go along if only to hear what they have to say.

Very well, I will go and see what they have to say. I must confess I am a little curious.

Polly has concentrated hard on her duties as a wife and mother since she left politics, but she finds the thought of being involved again in some way, however small, exciting.

Her family has enjoys not having to worry about her, her parents especially. They still live in the same house that Polly was brought up in, as does her sister Maisy, who has never married. In fact, Polly has always suspected that Maisy was in love with Daniel and has never looked elsewhere for a husband, happy with her career as a teacher. The youngest sister, Daisy, is now married and lives in Leicester, while Brother George is engaged and lives in Leicester.

Polly spends Tuesday looking over old papers from when she was at the Foreign Office. The notes of things to do and meetings to be arranged make her suddenly realise that perhaps she has been missing the years that she and Daniel fought against the Soviets. She had begun chronicling the activities for her memoirs so some of the items are close to hand, and Polly finds herself reminiscing as she looks over the various documents.

She has items dating back to 1952, when she and Daniel were married and recalls vividly their fights against Soviet agents, in their efforts to bring down a conspiracy within the Civil Service and the trade union movement at the time. She notices references to the explosion at their home in 1962 which caused the death of Mrs Brodie, the housekeeper, and Polly becomes upset at that memory. Mrs Brodie was a good friend as well as her housekeeper.

They were dark days, but Polly is reminded of the good times when she uncovers the lists she made for guests at their reception at the Savoy Hotel. She even manages to find a menu from that wonderful day!

Will you be having lunch in here, Polly? It’s a lovely day, and I thought you may like to sit outside for a while, asks Mrs Browne.

So, Polly sits outside for the rest of the afternoon, before she collects Richard and Susan from school and looks forward to her meeting tomorrow at the Home Office.

Polly arrives at the Home Office at 9:45 am and is shown up to the fifth floor, where she is met by Michael Wellings. Wearing a blue dress with matching jacket, Polly presents an attractive figure. She has always been precise with her dress, a feature from her previous days in public office, when she was regularly photographed by the media. There may be one or two lines appearing now but she is still an attractive 34-year-old.

Mrs Bottomley, very pleased to meet you, I am Michael Wellings. Can I introduce to you the Home Secretary Sir Matthew Parrish, Chief Superintendent Joe Burke of the Metropolitan Police and Inspector Bill Myers? The other members of my staff you will get to know in due course. Please sit down, can we offer you some tea?

Good morning everyone, yes tea would be nice, thank you, Polly replies as she sits down.

Thank you so much for coming along, your reputation precedes you and we do have a problem which your unique experience may be able to solve, or at least offer some advice.

I must say I was intrigued by your message, Mr Wellings. But, as you know, I retired from government office a while ago, so I am a bit out of touch, you understand.

Mrs Bottomley, I must confess I had no idea you were so young, just when exactly did you begin this fight against the Russians in our country? asks the Home Secretary, Sir Matthew Parrish, intrigued that the government should be turning to this young woman for advice on such a serious matter.

16 years ago, Sir Matthew, in 1952, when I began my career in the Civil Service. I joined the Home Office from school and lived with my guardian at the time, who was seconded to MI6.

Mrs Bottomley, you must be Daniel’s wife, I presume? Chief Superintendent Burke comments.

Yes, sir, that is correct. Daniel and I were married the same year I joined the Civil Service.

I know your husband by reputation; his career and exploits are well known in the police and intelligence agencies. You must be the young lady who was responsible for breaking up the Russian infiltration into the Civil Service back then? I did help Daniel with bits of information, yes, but they were difficult times and he suffered several injuries as the Soviets tried to stop us breaking up their conspiracy.

Indeed, all I will say on this, Michael, is that you couldn’t have picked a better person for this job. Mrs Bottomley’s reputation is well known. She devoted ten years of her life fighting the Russians and suffered dreadfully at their hands, as I recall.

Well, it seems we have made a wise choice. Can we tell you a little bit about what is involved, Mrs Bottomley, and perhaps you could tell us your thoughts? Michael Wellings asks.

"As I mentioned in my letter, there is concern in the government that the current unrest in the student movement is being orchestrated by the communists. Whilst we have no real evidence here in Britain, what is happening in France is most certainly very organised and smacks of typical communist agitation from within the trade unions.

"We have had some protests already, especially in London, and they are becoming increasingly violent. The Grosvenor Square protest in March was, we believe, the work of the communists. While that was essentially a protest against the Americans in Vietnam, we believe that there are more protests planned in the aftermath of what has been happening in France. The student union has organised some protests the government’s education policies and to date, they have been relatively peaceful, but we are sure that there are some big demonstrations planned to take place during the summer months.

Our concern is that they get out of hand and feed the violence that communist agitators so enjoy creating. We need to find out who is specifically behind these protests and that is why we have invited you here today Mrs Bottomley. If anyone can find out, it is you. The PM himself has endorsed this meeting and given you a free hand in how you might tackle this problem. Michael Wellings concludes.

Thank you for your endorsement, Mr Wellings. Can I ask, do you have any specific evidence of communist activity in this?

Just rumour and supposition, Mrs Bottomley, that’s why we need your help.

And what has been done so far to try and secure any evidence that the students are being manipulated in some way? Polly asks.

We have watched their leaders and monitored some of their phone conversations, but all they talk about is their demands for the student education programme and direct action against the government if they do not get what they want, replies Chief Superintendent Burke.

What about solidarity with the trade union movement, any mention of that?

Nothing at all, they seem to be acting alone, or that is what they want us to believe.

Michael Wellings is rather puzzled by Polly’s question regarding the trade unions, and asks, Is that significant Mrs Bottomley, seeking solidarity with the trade unions?

Well, the trade unions have a history of communist interference in my experience and it would be easier to get information from inside the trade union movement than inside the student movement.

Interesting comment, Mrs Bottomley, I see you are already developing a strategy, are you not? the Minister replies.

Just thinking through what would have to be done, Sir Matthew, but I would have to talk with my husband before I make any decisions about what you are asking, but I will give your proposal serious thought. Thank you so much for inviting me here today.

The pleasure has been ours, Mrs Bottomley. May I ask how long you want before making a decision?

I will let you know by the end of the week, Mr Wellings.

Polly shakes hands with all those present and leaves the office to return home. She is excited by what is on offer, but must discuss the proposal with Daniel and see what he has to say. He may be able to offer some official advice on student unrest. She mentions this to him over dinner that evening after she has told him of her meeting at the Home Office.

What do you think I should do, Daniel? Do you believe I can make a difference to their efforts to find out who is behind the student unrest?

You are the only person qualified for the task, Polly, that point is obvious, that is why they have contacted you. I suggest you offer your services with the proviso that it is just for this operation that you will make yourself available. And, you must go to your next meeting with a clear set of ground rules on how you want to operate. If the Russians are behind this, then you are uniquely qualified to break up the party.

Very well, Daniel, I will tell Michael Wellings that I will accept the position and lay out my requirements when I meet with him. In the meantime, I will see if I can find out what is happening with these protests, whether they are genuine or orchestrated by the Soviets.

Polly contacts Wellings and tells him of her formal acceptance subject to agreement on procedures.

I have full authorisation to give you all the assistance you ask for, Mrs Bottomley. Perhaps we could meet again on Monday at 10 ’o clock to go over details?

Polly agrees to this and spends some time in discussions with Daniel over the weekend.

Have you been able to find out anything about the students who are involved, Daniel?

Nothing about specific players, but I can give you some background on the protest movement.

Anything you have would be useful, as I am completely in the dark about how students operate.

It appears that the protests have been orchestrated from the London School of Economics, and the leaders appear to have been inspired by the European protests, specifically in Paris. The college has a radical tradition and believes it can change history through social revolution.

It sounds the stuff of daydreams, Daniel. Why do they wish to disrupt this government, which is Socialist and would tend to agree with their ideas? I’m confused.

That is true, Polly, but the government does not move quickly enough and is seen as the establishment, with all that the establishment represents.

It seems that if I am going to find out anything at all about what is happening inside the LSE, I need first-hand knowledge. I need to recruit someone inside.

My dear Polly, how on earth do you propose to do that? replies Daniel smiling. He fully appreciates his wife’s knowledge and experience, but thinks that recruitment from inside the LSE, a hotbed of revolution, will be too much even for Polly!

As a matter of fact, Daniel, I may know of someone who can help us. Do you remember that bubbly 20-year-old I recruited to oversee trade with the Ukraine? Penny Forsythe had been a student at the LSE.

But would she be able to enrol again do you think? What are the criteria for older students?

No idea, Daniel, but I know she was a bit of a revolutionary in her early days and that is why her father removed her. Well, only Penny would be able to answer the questions and we don’t know what she is doing now anyway.

I will make enquiries about her on Monday and I will also want Pam with me. She is the best in the business for analysing data whatever the subject is.

Pamela had worked with Polly as a data analyst some six years ago and was known to be one of the best analysts in government at the time. Her ability to collate details and draw conclusions proved invaluable to Polly, and she would not hesitate to have her on board again.

You mean Mrs Wilberforce. I still find it difficult to believe Conrad has settled down at last.

I think you and I had a hand in their relationship and how it blossomed, Daniel. They were together on a number of occasions because of circumstances relating to our work, if you remember.

Polly and Daniel enjoy the rest of the weekend before Polly heads off to the Home Office on Monday morning.

Mrs Bottomley, can I introduce you to Jonathan Miles. Jonathan will liaise with you for the department and help you in any way he can.

Jonathan Miles is a tall man in his forties, with a military bearing. He has cold eyes and gives Polly a smile, which she finds uncomfortable.

Pleased to meet you, Mrs Bottomley, your reputation precedes you, but I was expecting to meet with someone much older, he comments, obviously surprised to meet a young woman with such a reputation in the Service.

Thank you, Jonathan. I had no idea that I was still remembered, since it is six years since I retired from the service.

Indeed, but your exploits and those of your husband are often talked about, especially as the Russians are always plotting something.

Polly finds his comments rather puzzling but pays them no heed, but there is something about this man which she finds uncomfortable.

Anyway, Mrs Bottomley, can I outline for you what has been proposed, subject to your approval? We have allocated an office for you on the ground floor. We thought it might be more appropriate, especially as you are still known by your reputation and there may be distractions if you were in any of the main offices. Jonathan will be on hand to assist in any way you feel he can, but you have a relatively free hand on recruitment. Do you have anyone in mind that you feel may be able to help you at all?

I do have two people in mind; they were both with me when I was in the Foreign Office. Penny Forsythe and Pamela Wilberforce. I am not sure whether they are still at the Foreign Office, but it would be easy to find out. Initially, they can give me all the help I need, and Jonathan can assist me when I get more settled.

That’s fine, Mrs Bottomley. Now, let me show you the office we have allocated to you.

Wellings takes Polly down to the ground floor, accompanied by Jonathan. She is a little uncomfortable with Jonathan Miles’s closeness, but ignores it for the moment.

I will leave you two to get acquainted, then perhaps you can see if you can contact your colleagues. We can have some lunch before you leave, Mrs Bottomley, and go over your terms of reference.

Thank you, Michael. I will see you for lunch.

I really am looking forward to working with you, Mrs Bottomley, says Jonathan Miles after Wellings has left the office.

Polly is conscious of how close he stands to her before she sits at the desk and beckons him to sit as well. Everything about this man makes Polly feel uneasy, but she remains polite towards him.

Thank you, Jonathan, tell me have you worked with Michael long?

I do not work for Michael, Mrs Bottomley. I make my own decisions and am attached to a number of MPs and work on whatever projects they are involved in, he replies rather sharply.

My apologies, I did not mean to imply anything, replies Polly, surprised at his somewhat abrupt response.

No matter, I am here to help you in any way I can, he comments, stroking her hand.

I am sure we will get on famously, he says while holding her close and planting a kiss on her forehead.

Mr Miles, do you mind telling me what on earth you think you are doing? says Polly as she reels away from his touch.

I thought you would appreciate my holding you as a sign of my affection.

Please do not do anything like that again if you wish to continue working with me. Do you understand?

As you wish, Mrs Bottomley, but you may regret your attitude towards me, I can open a lot of doors for you, he says as he leaves Polly, who is shaking with anger at his behaviour.

After composing herself, she phones the Foreign Office and asks to speak with Pamela. She is delighted to hear what Polly has to say and agrees to meet with her in the morning. She then asks her if she knows how she can contact Penny.

I believe she is still involved with developing trade links. I will try and contact her and bring her along.

So, the following morning, Pamela calls at Polly’s office accompanied by Penny Forsythe. There are hugs and kisses all round since it has been some time since they saw one another.

Pam, Penny, it is so good to see you both again, thanks for coming.

You look marvellous, Polly, your retirement must be suiting you, says Pamela, who has not seen Polly since she and Conrad married four years ago.

Hello, Mrs Bottomley, it’s so nice to see you again, says Penny. She does not seem to have changed at all and her dress is still somewhat outlandish.

Please Penny, call me Polly, and you don’t seem to have changed at all.

Just then, Jonathan Miles enters the room and after introductions Polly asks him if he would leave her with her colleagues as they have a lot of catching up to do.

Very well, Mrs Bottomley, I will see you later.

So, Polly, what’s this all about? Are you back fighting the Russians again?

"It would appear so, Pam, and that is what I hope to determine with the help of you and Penny.

The government is concerned that the communists are behind the student unrest and I have been asked to investigate. I need people I know and can trust to help me find out just what is happening and you two fit the bill. You Penny, because of your LSE background, and you Pamela, with your unique skills of being able to analyse whatever data we may determine. How do you both feel about coming on board?"

I would love to work with you again, Polly, and would welcome a change of emphasis.

Pamela has been heading a data analysis department responsible for monitoring government aid distribution and how it can be best channelled to the neediest parts of the world.

And I would like the chance to mingle with students again, Polly. I enjoyed my time at the LSE, although I am a little apprehensive about returning at 26 years of age!

Okay, well, I will talk with the Minister about arranging your transfers on an open-ended basis. I suggest that you clear your work outstanding by the end of the day on Thursday and meet with me here on Friday. We can then set out our strategy. This is going to be difficult, but I am sure we can do a good job. Now, before you both leave, about Jonathan Miles, the man you met earlier, I am not sure about him. He has been seconded to me by the Under Secretary, but I know nothing about him yet. I am going to ask Daniel to check him for me. In the meantime, we will not be sharing any information with him and I do not intend for him to be positioned in this office. Now, you had better get back to your work and I will see you both on Friday morning.

Polly hugs both Pamela and Penny before sitting down at her desk and going over what needs to be done. She admits to herself that being involved again does give her a tingle of excitement and she looks forward to the task ahead.

The members of the Phoenix Project meet in the Constitutional Club in Blackfriars once a month. They come from all walks of life and do not always sit well together with such a wide variety of backgrounds.

Miles Templeton MP is a hard-line right-winger, determined and ambitious with his political career.

Horace Wetherby MP is an old established conservative with family values and a staunch supporter of the democratic process.

Cedric Pershore MP is a bigot who wants legislation to control unions and immigration. He believes that the democratic process needs to be reassessed.

Bertram Waverly MP is a multi-millionaire industrialist and property magnate. He has been invited to be a member because of his financial clout and has pledged financial support as and when required.

Sir Ian Williams has many connections in both the Commons and the lords and so can open many doors in government and beyond.

Colonel James Pitt ret’d is a veteran of the Korean War and able to give advice on use of the military during social unrest. He was considered for both his military prowess as well as his knowledge of the communists in warfare.

Walter Faversham QC is a circuit judge. He has become increasingly frustrated by the erosion of the powers of the judiciary and the continuing liberalisation of the sentencing rules. He is also a strong advocate of corporal punishment.

Lord Barton of Chatsberry is a peer of the realm and has ancestors dating back to the trading in slavery. He too is a firm believer in capital punishment and in military conscription.

These young people need discipline, gentlemen, and the sooner we rid our nation of the socialists the better. Action is required and the sooner the better, Miles Templeton says firmly.

Godfrey Summers and Jonathan Miles are the fixers for the group. Both are ruthless men who will not shy away from using violence and are experts with weapons. Miles is a psychopath who enjoys hurting people and seeing people hurt and delights in instructing his contacts to carry out such work. They are the ‘go to’ men for the members when a dirty job must be done.

The discussions this evening centre around how they can engineer further social unrest using the students and point the blame at the communists. They all believe this is the best strategy to adopt. The ‘Phoenix Project’ has been formed with one aim in mind: to bring down the government and replace it with a hard-right administration.

The freedom of expression that the 60s has created does not sit well with these men. Indeed, their draconian principles are not unlike the communists’ attitudes, which they are using as an excuse to further their aims. They are determined to set in place a series of events that they hope will give them an opportunity to bring down the government and offer an alternative mandate of right-wing policies.

"This government is losing control, gentlemen, and we have to exploit the situation with the students. We must engineer the unrest and continue to use the communist as the perpetrators to cover ourselves.

"If we plan this correctly, it should not be too long before we can force the Socialists from office. The Phoenix will rise from the ashes of this Socialist disaster, gentlemen, and put back the ‘Great’ into Great Britain again. We need to keep the pressure on the protest pedal and find some way of endorsing the belief that the communists are causing the unrest. The sooner we prove the inadequacy of the government in all this, the nearer we will be to provide an alternative.

A strong government with legislation to control the unruly elements of our society, the students and the trade unions must be brought to heel. In the meantime, we must continue to show the government’s lack of action in Parliament. Despite his comfortable majority, the PM seems reluctant to act against the students and meantime the unrest will continue. This is our opportunity, gentlemen, and we must grasp it. We must not fail in our resolve! says Miles Templeton, his voice raised as he becomes excited by the prospect of power.

Miles Templeton is very much the driving force behind the Phoenix Project. He is a hard-line right-wing politician who views with dismay the liberal attitudes of the 60’s and is convinced that the only way to stop it is to overthrow the socialist government. He is a ruthless man hell-bent on achieving power by any means at his disposal. The establishment of the Phoenix Project is to do just that, including a non-democratic coup. He has around him a group of hard liners with the same beliefs as himself, although perhaps not quite so forceful. But, they are ready to do whatever is necessary to restore law and order and discipline to the country. And they have influence in the police, the security services and the establishment.

Jonathan, what about this business with this Mrs Bottomley? Should we be concerned? Remember, nothing must get in the way of our success, absolutely nothing. Do I make myself clear? Do whatever needs to be done if she gets too inquisitive, comments Templeton.

I don’t believe she represents a threat at all, Miles. She has a reputation for her success against the Soviets and we can make sure that she continues to look at them to blame. She cannot be considered a threat to the Phoenix Project in any way. She hasn’t been involved in government for six years, and I think the Minister has called on her as a gesture to show that he is doing something about what is happening. I hope to use her previous success against the communists to influence her decisions and her reporting to the Minister. She is obsessed with the Soviets and it will be easy to convince her of another conspiracy, I’m sure.

Well, just who exactly is she anyway? asks Sir Ian Williams.

She was an MP until she resigned some six years ago now. You may recall, Sir Ian, that she and her husband were involved in two high profile conspiracy trials, one in ’52 and one in ’62. She is obviously a very intelligent woman but somewhat blinkered in her attitude towards the Soviets. Reds under the bed, if you like. She will do everything she can, I’m sure, to convince herself that the Russians are behind all this unrest. However, if she proves difficult, then rest assured that I will deal with her in my own way, replies Jonathan Miles with a sinister smile. He is already planning to deal with Polly in his own way after she spurned his attentions towards her.

Then we must make sure that she is given every encouragement to pursue the communist idea. As I have said, Jonathan, you do whatever is necessary. What she must not do is meddle in our business. Too much is at stake here, Miles Templeton raises his voice and there is a degree of menace in his tone.

So, what is our next plan of action, gentlemen? We need to speed up proceedings. How many men have we got inside the student movement that can move the protests to other parts of the country? asks Bertram Waverly. A multi-millionaire industrialist and property dealer, Waverley has offered financial backing for the Phoenix Project initiative. He wants to see the back of the Socialist regime, which is not doing his business any favours, and will use his financial muscle for whatever alternative the Phoenix Project comes up with. He has made his fortune from hard work and is appalled by the liberal attitudes being put forward by the current administration and the public at large. Whilst he agrees in principle with Templeton’s ideals, he does concern himself with his attitude of power at all costs. He still believes in old-school family values and considers himself a gentleman who is well respected by everyone; this works for him in his business ventures.

We need our contacts in the police and the security services to start cracking a few heads for us, gentlemen. There is nothing the press likes better than to bash the police. It can stir up resentment very quickly if the police are seen to be stopping the lawful protests of the students by using violence against them. And we need to show them damaging property. Can we organise the protest’s route so that they go down Oxford Street and smash a few windows? We need to escalate the protest and make the public sit up and wonder what the hell is going on in the country. Get your agents to work quickly, Jonathan, we must not waste any more time, Cedric Pershore comments, his voice becoming louder as he lays out what he thinks should be done.

Cedric Pershore believes that the democratic process has gone too far in the country and legislation to control the unions and immigration should be priority. His comments on immigrants have caused widespread criticism and he has in fact been censored by his own party over this.

He is also openly critical of women in politics and still believes a woman’s place is in the home and having children. Pershore is a bigot who has no time for anyone’s beliefs or ideas if they conflict with his own. He is everything that should not be reflected in the political system. He views democracy as an unnecessary distraction in the aims of the Phoenix Project.

Be very careful about breaking the law too openly, gentlemen. We still have a system in place, if somewhat weak, to punish lawbreakers, Walter Faversham comments.

And we should keep a close watch on any known communist’s gentlemen, they might just show their hand. You must appreciate how devious their methods are; they will look to exploit the student unrest while putting their own agenda in place if they have any ambitions. They can be a great help to your aims without realising it, comments Colonel Pitt.

Okay, gentlemen, we have some work to do over the next few weeks. Miles, just make sure that you keep an eye on that Mrs Bottomley, says Templeton.

You have any problems there, you tell me, I’ll have her dealt with, says Pershore as the men disperse from their meeting down into the smoke room.

Meanwhile, after telling the Under Secretary that Penny and Pamela will be joining her on Friday, Polly returns home and talks with Daniel about Jonathan Miles.

I don’t trust him at all, Daniel. There is something about him which I find disturbing, comments Polly, mentioning his actions towards her.

I will certainly make some inquiries for you, Polly; if you are not comfortable with him, then you need to tell the Under Secretary.

I will, but perhaps you could make some enquiries first, before I come to any conclusions?

Daniel makes some enquiries about Miles as soon as he gets into his office the following morning, and what he discovers is rather puzzling. The man does not seem to work for any specific office and his background is almost non-existent He had been a merchant seaman, but was discharged by his employers after an incident involving a serious assault on a woman in Hong Kong. He has no record at all in the Service, and Daniel suspects that he is a fixer for anyone who pays him. The corridors of power are known to have such men with very shady backgrounds, who can operate outside the law and unhindered. Miles certainly fits that mould and Daniel is somewhat concerned that he is involved in Polly’s activities.

He must have friends in high places, Polly, since he does not have any qualifications for any role in the Civil Service. My advice is to steer clear of him and only tell him what you must. I would advise against telling him anything regarding your findings on the students.

Gosh Daniel, how did he manage to get the ear of the Under Secretary, and more important, why should he be interested in what I am doing? I can’t believe he is working for the communists. All he would say to me is that he does work for a number of MPs but did not mention who they were.

"I wouldn’t have thought he has any links with communists, but I would be interested to know whom he is answering to. In the meantime, Polly, be careful when he is around you; this man