will be characterised by a vigorous drive towards greater efficiency, accountability and value for money. So often in the past we have seen an almost criminal wastage of resources. I duly give notice that this will stop!â James paused theatrically. The Commons was unusually full for his speech, which was something of a novelty for James â he was well acquainted with vast acres of empty green leather.
He felt nervous, as he always did when addressing the motley hordes and their snobbish, carefully cultured indifference, but that nervousness was admirably concealed behind a mask of supreme confidence. Only Angela and Celeste knew how he really felt. He imagined his Mistress sitting alone on the back-benches in her very finest strappery, a coiled whip hanging from her belt and Bertie perched at her shoulder. James slipped a hand in his trouser pocket and took comfort fingering the concealed outline of his tight leather punishment briefs. Goodness, his middle regions really were wrapped in a deliciously warm and snug embrace!
It had been a good speech, and the PM showed full support by sitting beside him, smirking at his main adversary across the dispatch box, the formidable Vivian Bell.
Bell fully justified his position as Her Majestyâs Leader of the Opposition. Strangely for such a high profile member from the other side of the political divide, he was also one of Jamesâs regular drinking partners, or at least he was when he could give his termagant wife the slip. Clara Bell possessed a tongue that could split tree trunks at three hundred paces, and there was an unofficial parliamentary committee fully engaged in thwarting her energetic ambitions to become an MP.
It was chaired by her husband,
There was a guarded murmur of approval. Jamesâs sudden appearance on the front bench was treated with caution. It was obvious they didnât like strangers. Strangers! What a joke â heâd been an MP for years â the fact was they didnât like nonentities, and the distressing truth was that as a nonentity, James qualified admirably.
âWith this aim in view, I am initiating an urgent financial review by a small and flexible group of independent experts assisted by the Treasury.â
The PM nodded authoritatively. This was baloney, but nobody ever remembered what was said in the House.
âMy aim is to transform the armed services into a modern, efficient, and flexible organisation.â Surprisingly, the speech was rather good. Much was in the general vein of what James was going to say anyway. Except for the last few lines, of course.
âHear! Hear!â murmured the Premier dutifully. He scribbled a few notes on an order paper with his famous gold pen, a gift from the American Senate, only half aware of what James was saying. After all, the speech had been produced by his own talented writing team, so it was not surprising he was completely unprepared for Jamesâs bombshell.
James took a deep breath, shuffled his papers and promptly departed from the notes prepared for him by No. 10. âThe viability of major defence establishments located in central London will also be reviewed and if cheaper accommodation can be found elsewhere, then departments will be dispersed, and the huge amounts of money saved will be ring-fenced to buy state of the art equipment to support the finest forces in the world. British weapons and British technology to defend British interests!â
The PM looked up and frowned. He didnât remember this bit. Still, it sounded good. Nice to know Timbrill actually had some inventiveness. âVery good, James,â he murmured, perfectly happy to encourage this minor streak of independence. âKeep going.â
âThe review will be led by three fully independent city auditors who have already been charged with the task. They have been granted unrestricted access and will report directly to me and I will present their
He felt nervous, as he always did when addressing the motley hordes and their snobbish, carefully cultured indifference, but that nervousness was admirably concealed behind a mask of supreme confidence. Only Angela and Celeste knew how he really felt. He imagined his Mistress sitting alone on the back-benches in her very finest strappery, a coiled whip hanging from her belt and Bertie perched at her shoulder. James slipped a hand in his trouser pocket and took comfort fingering the concealed outline of his tight leather punishment briefs. Goodness, his middle regions really were wrapped in a deliciously warm and snug embrace!
It had been a good speech, and the PM showed full support by sitting beside him, smirking at his main adversary across the dispatch box, the formidable Vivian Bell.
Bell fully justified his position as Her Majestyâs Leader of the Opposition. Strangely for such a high profile member from the other side of the political divide, he was also one of Jamesâs regular drinking partners, or at least he was when he could give his termagant wife the slip. Clara Bell possessed a tongue that could split tree trunks at three hundred paces, and there was an unofficial parliamentary committee fully engaged in thwarting her energetic ambitions to become an MP.
It was chaired by her husband,
There was a guarded murmur of approval. Jamesâs sudden appearance on the front bench was treated with caution. It was obvious they didnât like strangers. Strangers! What a joke â heâd been an MP for years â the fact was they didnât like nonentities, and the distressing truth was that as a nonentity, James qualified admirably.
âWith this aim in view, I am initiating an urgent financial review by a small and flexible group of independent experts assisted by the Treasury.â
The PM nodded authoritatively. This was baloney, but nobody ever remembered what was said in the House.
âMy aim is to transform the armed services into a modern, efficient, and flexible organisation.â Surprisingly, the speech was rather good. Much was in the general vein of what James was going to say anyway. Except for the last few lines, of course.
âHear! Hear!â murmured the Premier dutifully. He scribbled a few notes on an order paper with his famous gold pen, a gift from the American Senate, only half aware of what James was saying. After all, the speech had been produced by his own talented writing team, so it was not surprising he was completely unprepared for Jamesâs bombshell.
James took a deep breath, shuffled his papers and promptly departed from the notes prepared for him by No. 10. âThe viability of major defence establishments located in central London will also be reviewed and if cheaper accommodation can be found elsewhere, then departments will be dispersed, and the huge amounts of money saved will be ring-fenced to buy state of the art equipment to support the finest forces in the world. British weapons and British technology to defend British interests!â
The PM looked up and frowned. He didnât remember this bit. Still, it sounded good. Nice to know Timbrill actually had some inventiveness. âVery good, James,â he murmured, perfectly happy to encourage this minor streak of independence. âKeep going.â
âThe review will be led by three fully independent city auditors who have already been charged with the task. They have been granted unrestricted access and will report directly to me and I will present their
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