Angel Manifesto
Page 16
The experts were put out of their misery when, about 3.40, Michael called a press conference for 4.15. Andrew guessed it would be at the Methodist Hall at Westminster and, for a minute, wondered if he should rouse Chloe and go. However, he realised quickly that this would be a waste of time – even if they could get there by 4.15 and even if they could get in.
Now that the talking heads had a time target, the TV discussion turned to what sort of conditions Michael might demand for a deal with either main party. It was politics as usual as far as these people were concerned. Would there, for example, need to be a written agreement as the Lib Dems had insisted on with their 2010 pact with the Tories?
At exactly 4.15 the cameras moved to the conference. They focused on a wide, empty, but well-lit stage – yes, it had to be the Methodist Hall, Andrew thought. At 4.17 Michael himself walked alone from the wings and went to a central podium. There was a hum of excited chatter round the Hall, only stilled as Michael held up a hand and spoke.
“I have called this gathering to do three things” he said. Not for the first time, Andrew marvelled at how Michael could seem so calm and untouched by the events of the last few days. No sign of a man who had nearly been killed, who had watched and waited Election night with them all, and could not have had more than a couple of hours of sleep. “First, I want to thank the people of Britain for the massive vote of confidence you have given us. Over 6 million people voted for us even though in many parts of the UK there was no Angel candidate that you could vote for. We take huge comfort from your endorsement of us; and I promise that we will not let you down. We will not return to the politics as usual that you have so resolutely turned your backs on.
Second, I want to record publicly my heartfelt thanks to the thousands of supporters without whose staggering efforts in the last few weeks, this success would not have been possible. I will have much more to say to you over the days and weeks ahead. But know now that I will never forget.
Third – and it really harks back to the first of my commitments – I want to say something about how we intend to go forward. There is and can be no question of our reaching an accord, doing a deal, with any of the other parties. By fielding 600 candidates, both the Tories and Labour polled many more total votes than we did. But it is hard to deny the facts – only one party, ours, comes out of this Election with any kind of mandate.
For us to engineer a coalition would be politics as usual; it would be a slap in the face for the millions of you who have had the courage to try something new. Now, I don’t claim to be an expert on the British Constitution; but I forecast that sometime in the next 24 hours a message will come from the Palace asking me to appear before His Majesty. That would be the normal course for a situation where no one party has a majority. The party with the most seats, us The Angels, would normally be accorded first chance to form a Government.
If we are offered that chance then I shall propose a minority Government consisting solely of Angel MPs. We will invite a small number of existing politicians to leave their party allegiance – decent people from across the political spectrum who have obtained a seat but on the ticket of another party. There are just a few such people, in my opinion, who can cast off ‘politics as usual’ and whose talents and opinions would be of real value to the whole community. But, even if they all came, we would be way short of a majority.
If invited by the King nevertheless to proceed, we will then put policies to Parliament. On the basis that, if we are voted down on anything that we consider vital, we will immediately resign and prepare for another Election. The Angels are ready and, in contrast to the bedraggled existing parties, financially able to do this. And, next time there is an Election, we will run candidates in every constituency in the UK. From the electorate’s actions yesterday, I don’t doubt that this second Election will secure us a majority.
Now I’ll take questions but there really isn’t much more I can or will say at this point. We will stand alone in Government or not at all.”
Andrew listened to this short speech in silence. Of course, he realised, this was how Michael would play things; and with the great advantage that only the Angels had both the financial will and the personal beliefs to make a success of it. No messy or tawdry deals. Knowing Michael as Andrew now felt he did, the man would almost certainly have some early ‘vital’ policies ready to unleash next week that would appeal to voters and which would be difficult, if not impossible, for the other parties to vote down.
Andrew thought back to the turbulent 14 months since he had agreed to the Colonel’s original plan. What had he got in that time? A girl whom he would follow to the ends of the Earth. A political platform in which he had faith. That was more than enough for him. And now, millions of voters had said they too wanted a future with real hope. They must not be denied.