‘Because my poll ratings aren’t much better than Yeltsin’s. However, with my backing, I’m convinced you can win.’
‘It’s good of you to say so. But Vladimir could still prove a problem. After all, he was deputy mayor of Saint Petersburg, and won’t like the idea of me standing for president.’
‘You needn’t worry about Vladimir. He left Saint Petersburg only minutes before he would have been arrested for embezzlement of public funds. He disappeared off to Moscow and was last sighted in the Kremlin.’
‘Doing what?’
‘Rumour has it that he’s working closely with Yeltsin, but no one’s quite sure in what capacity.’
‘Vladimir’s only interested in one thing, and that’s becoming director of the FSB.’
‘Who did they think they were kidding when they abolished the KGB and it re-emerged later as the Federal Security Service? The same bunch of thugs doing the same job, even in the same building,’ Nemtsov mused. ‘But if Vladimir was to pull that off, you would be wise not to make an enemy of him. In fact if he was on your side, it might even help your cause.’
‘But if he was on my side,’ said Sasha, ‘it could only harm my cause. I couldn’t hope to achieve anything worthwhile with him continually looking over my shoulder. In fact the very changes I would want to make as president, he would be vehemently opposed to.’
‘But in politics,’ said Nemtsov, ‘you occasionally have to compromise—’
‘Compromise is for those who have no courage, no morals and no principles.’
‘You don’t have to convince me, Sasha, that you’re the right man for the job, but first we have to get you elected.’
‘I’m sorry to be so negative, but I wouldn’t want to become president only to find that someone else was pulling the strings.’
‘I understand. But once you get the job you can cut those strings. Remember, there is no power without office.’
‘Of course you’re right,’ said Sasha. ‘And I’ll let you know as soon as I’ve made my decision.’
‘Do you have any idea when that might be?’
‘It won’t be much longer, Boris. But there are one or two people I still have to consult before I can make a final decision.’
‘Surely your mother must be pressing you to stand? After all, your father certainly would have wanted you to be president.’
‘She’s the only one in the family who’s one hundred per cent against the idea,’ said Sasha. ‘She’s a great believer in a “bird in the hand”...’
‘I don’t know the expression,’ said Nemtsov. ‘And what about your wife?’
‘Charlie’s sitting on the fence.’
‘Now that’s an expression every politician in the world is familiar with.’
Sasha laughed. ‘But she would back me if she felt I really wanted the job, and believed I could win.’
‘What about your daughter?’
‘Natasha’s only interest at the moment is someone called Brad Pitt.’
‘An aspiring politician?’
‘No, an American actor who Natasha is convinced would fall in love with her, if only they could meet. And she doesn’t understand why a foreign office minister can’t arrange it. Just how important are you, Dad? she keeps asking.’
Nemtsov laughed. ‘It’s no different in our home. My son wants to be a drummer in a local jazz band, and has absolutely no interest in going to university.’
Big Ben struck four times in the background.
‘I’d better get back and join my colleagues,’ said Nemtsov, ‘before they work out why I really came to London.’
‘Thank you for giving me so much of your time, Boris, and your continued support,’ said Sasha, as they walked back up to the Central Lobby together.
‘Every time I see you, Sasha, I become more convinced that you’re the right man to be our next president.’
‘I’m grateful for your backing, and I’ll let you know the moment I’ve made up my mind.’
‘If you were to return to Saint Petersburg,’ said Boris, ‘you might be surprised by the welcome you would receive.’
‘I’m glad I don’t have to make the decision,’ said Charlie.
‘But you do, my darling,’ said Sasha. ‘Because I wouldn’t even consider taking on such a risky enterprise without your blessing.’
‘Have you taken into consideration how much you have to lose?’
‘Of course I have. And as Labour look almost certain to win the next election, it would be easy for me to just sit back and hope I become foreign secretary. The far bigger risk would be to resign from the Commons, return to Russia and spend a year campaigning to become president, only to see someone else snatch the prize.’
‘Especially if that someone else turned out to be your old friend Vladimir.’
‘As long as he’s Yeltsin’s bag carrier, he’s more likely to end up in prison than the Kremlin.’
‘Then let me ask you a simple question,’ said Charlie. ‘If I were to offer you both of those positions on a plate, president of Russia or British foreign secretary, which one would you choose?’
‘President of Russia,’ said Sasha without hesitation.
‘Then you have your answer,’ said Charlie, ‘and mine. Otherwise you’ll spend the rest of your life wondering, “what if?” ’
‘Do you think there’s anyone else I should consult before making such an irrevocable decision?’
Charlie thought long and hard before she said, ‘No point in asking your mother, because we both know exactly where she stands. Or your daughter, who is otherwise preoccupied. But I’d be fascinated to hear Alf Rycroft’s opinion. He’s a shrewd old buzzard, who’s known you for over twenty years, and he has that rare ability to think outside the box. And probably even more important, he’ll only have your best interests at heart.’
‘And to what do I owe this great honour, minister?’ asked Alf, as he accompanied Sasha through to the sitting room.
‘I need your advice, Alf.’
‘Then have a seat. We’re unlikely to be disturbed, as my wife, Millicent, is out doing good works. I think it’s her day at the hospital as library monitor.’
‘She’s a saint.’
‘As is Charlie. Truth is, we both got lucky in the lottery of marriage. So how can I help you, young man?’
‘I’m forty-six,’ said Sasha. ‘You used to call me young man when I first came to the constituency over twenty years ago. Now, nobody does.’
‘Wait till you reach my age,’ said Alf, ‘you’ll be only too grateful if anyone calls you young man. Now, when you called to say you wanted to discuss a private matter, it wasn’t difficult to work out what was troubling you.’
‘And what conclusion did you come to?’
‘Naturally I’d like you to become foreign secretary, then I could spend the rest of my days telling the lads at the bowls club that I was the first to spot your potential.’
‘No more than the truth,’ said Sasha.
‘I knew you were a bit special the day we interviewed you for Merrifield. So what I’m about to say, Sasha, may come as a bit of a surprise. I think you should resign from the Commons, return to Russia, and, if it’s not too dramatic a statement, fulfil your destiny.’
‘But that would mean risking everything, when there’s an easy option still open to me.’
‘Agreed, but then it’s never been your style to take the easy option. When you had the opportunity to represent a safe London seat, you chose instead to return to Merrifield and fight a marginal.’
‘There’s a lot more at stake this time,’ said Sasha.
‘As there was for Winston Churchill, when he crossed the floor of the House to join the Conservatives, because he certainly would never have become prime minister if he’d remained on the Liberal benches.’