Polls Apart (8 page)

T
hursday 9
th April
2009
, UK Newswire – Prime Minister Kelvin Davis will today meet with Anna Lloyd, the actress wife of opposition leader Richard Williams, as part of an official reception to celebrate Women of Courage.

Sources close to the Prime Minister admitted Lloyd was a late addition to the guest list, but added that Mr Davis had felt “compelled and inspired” after reading of the actress’s suffering during her youth at the hands of her stepfather.

Lloyd revealed in a recent newspaper interview that, following years of abuse, she and her sister had killed their stepfather shortly after their mother’s death from alcoholism.

Lloyd will join eight other women who have overcome extreme adversity, including forty-three-year-old dinner lady, Maggie Rae, who fought off armed attackers at a school in Manchester in July last year.

Mrs Rae barricaded herself and a hundred children into the school dining room, forcing the mob – who were looking for a rival gang member – to give up their search and leave without harming anyone.

Davis’s hand of friendship to Lloyd follows a remarkable turnaround in political fortunes for him in the polls, which now put his Alliance Party just a few points behind the
SDP
. Williams has been unable to stave off an Alliance onslaught following his decision to separate from Lloyd in the aftermath of tabloid claims that she previously worked as an escort girl.

But the Prime Minister’s decision to invite Lloyd to the lunch at Number
10
did not win the support of all his parliamentary colleagues. Alliance backbencher Lizzie Ancroft said the actress was “not worthy of a place at a table honouring courageous women”.

She added: “The sordid allegations about Anna Lloyd’s past along with the revelation that she has a previous conviction for the manslaughter of her stepfather, have only added fuel to the publicity juggernaut surrounding this attention-seeking actress.

“I am disappointed that the Prime Minister has chosen to join the circus, turning what should have been a celebration of bravery into little more than a charade.”

“Do you want me to run through everyone’s names one more time?” Reggie asked, as he broke into a trot in an attempt to keep up with Kelvin’s trademark brisk walk through the halls of Number
10
.

“No, I think I’ve got it thank you. Where’s Lloyd sitting in relation to me?”

“You’re at the top of the table and she’ll be sitting to your left. You’ll have Anita Blaine on your right – the woman who…”

“Rescued a drunk from a drain, I remember.”

“Well, it was more of a flooded ditch than a drain…”

“I’ve got it Reggie. Where’s Alfie sitting?”

“The Home Secretary’s in the middle of the table and Minister for Women at the opposite end to you.”

Kelvin paused briefly just before they reached the door to the reception room.

“Well, I hope they’ve put the knives away,” he said with a wry smile.

“Knives?”

“I’ll be sitting next to a convicted killer, Reggie. You can’t be too careful.”

“Oh,” said Reggie, looking concerned.

“Don’t worry, Reg. I’m used to fighting women off.” Kelvin winked at his press secretary before making his grand entrance into the room.

Anna tried to remain focused on the very broad Mancunian dinner lady who had accosted her as soon as she’d walked into the reception room, but she couldn’t help but steal a long glance at Kelvin as he walked in. She hadn’t seen him up close in at least four months and she thought he’d lost a bit of weight around his midriff. His hair was slicked back as usual, and he’d chosen a bright pink tie for the occasion – clearly to show his feminine side, Anna thought. She had never known quite what to make of Kelvin. While he was a hugely charismatic and engaging character, there was more than a small element of slime around him and it was clear he had an eye for the ladies. He especially enjoyed giving long, lingering glances – of which Anna had been at the receiving end of more than a few. And within a few seconds of entering the room, his eyes had found her out and he was, indeed, staring at her. Anna focused intently on the dinner lady again, who was enjoying a long rant along the lines of “Don’t worry love, all men are shits”. Anna nodded appreciatively and hoped the next two hours would pass quickly.

Kelvin, who had already greeted a couple of courageous women, quickly sidestepped his way towards Anna.

“My dear,” he said, in the tone of a long-lost uncle. “So nice to see you here.” He lunged forwards and planted a lingering kiss on her left cheek.

“Thanks for inviting me,” said Anna “It’s actually my first engagement since the whole marriage saga kicked off – in fact, it’s pretty much my first time out anywhere since then.”

“Well, you’re among friends here today,” Kelvin said earnestly. Anna smiled politely but decided to move Kelvin’s attentions on before he said something that would really make her regret her decision to join him for this event. She was beginning to sense that the talk about this being “a non-political celebration, focused entirely on the women whose courage it sought to highlight” had actually just been a line to hook her into boosting Kelvin’s campaign. The thought made her stomach lurch and she turned quickly to the lady standing expectantly between them.

“This is Maggie Rae,” Anna said, touching her new acquaintance on the arm.

“Hiya, Mr Davis. Thanks ever so much for inviting me,” Maggie gushed.

“You are most welcome Maggie. I’ve heard so much about you.” Kelvin’s eyes darted around the room as he searched out an advisor or
PA
who would keep him right on timing.

“If I could encourage you ladies to move towards the far side of the room, we are going to gather for a small photo.”

“Oooh, lovely,” Maggie said, heading quickly in the direction Kelvin was pointing.

The Prime Minister leant in towards Anna. “Might I say, you look particularly beautiful today Anna. Your recent upset has done nothing to harm your looks.”

“You’re very kind Kelvin. Thank you,” replied Anna curtly in order not to further encourage him. But Kelvin hadn’t finished.

“You just stick to your guns and stay as far away as you can from Richard, because I’ve always known he’s all front and no substance. Frankly, you need a better man than that. I know how it feels to be publicly dumped and if you ever need someone to talk to, do not hesitate to call me here. Do you understand?” With this he gave Anna a conspiratorial nod, before marching off in the direction of Reggie.

Anna raised her eyes to the ceiling and sighed at the naivety of her decision to attend. With or without Richard, she was still a political pawn and realised she would have to be more careful in future about the events she chose to support. It was clear Kelvin was still living up to his reputation as a womaniser. Anna couldn’t help but wonder what he would have planned for next week’s visit from the Italian Prime Minister, with whom he famously enjoyed “socialising”, but she had no doubt he would be looking forward to it.

“Well, the headlines are clearly not going away,” Richard said, making sure he caught Henry’s eye as he made this point, “so we’ve got to look at how we can turn things around. I have my own ideas on what needs to be done, but first I’d like to hear from each of you.” Richard looked around his inner circle expectantly.

“If I could just say,” Bob jumped in. “It was clear to me from the start that public opinion would not change whilst Richard remained estranged from Anna. People are firmly on her side and, right now, she appears to be a woman in need of support from the husband she clearly still loves. I was never in favour of the separation in the first place…”

Sandra groaned and raised her eyes to the ceiling.

“… but, it’s time to look forward, not back. Richard needs to make amends for his wrongdoing.”

“Are you seriously saying he should go back to Anna after all that’s been said?” Sandra asked, her mouth hanging open with incredulity. “She has just spent the afternoon with Kelvin Davis after all. Talk about kicking sand in our faces.”

“And maybe we asked for that,” Ray piped in. “I’m with Bob one hundred per cent. I don’t believe we can win this election without Anna back in the fold. The biggest question is going to be whether she’ll have him back and whether the public are going to be willing to forgive him before May
6
th.”

“But how are we going to announce this spectacular U-turn?” Sandra demanded. “It’s going to look like Richard has been forced to go back grovelling. That does nothing to improve our standing…”

Richard allowed the voices of his colleagues to fade away as he thought about the last couple of weeks. He had been swept into a whirlwind of press conferences, speeches and briefings, which had left him doubting whether he would ever remember who he actually was as a human being. He only knew what he had become. A man who would ditch his wife, a woman he truly loved, at the first sign of a bad poll rating.

“I know this might come as a shock to some of you,” Henry was talking directly to him now, “but I think I need to start by making an apology today. While I still think Anna needed some time away from the cameras, I fully accept that in not consulting with her first we made a mistake for which I am substantially responsible.” He cleared his throat nervously before turning to Richard. “I am prepared to tender my resignation if it would help this situation.”

A brief stunned silence followed before Richard finally spoke. “I appreciate that offer, Henry, and I agree that we got this wrong, but I don’t think it’s only you who owes the apologies around here. What happens between my wife and me should never have been about politics and I was absolutely wrong to mix the two things together. It is me who owes her the biggest apology of all and I want to try and do that today. If it doesn’t work out, there’s nothing we can do to change the situation. If I have to fall on my sword over this one I will. So let’s not discuss how it is handled or who gets to know what. All I ask is that you give me a couple of hours to do what I have to.”

“What about the prison visit at three?” Henry asked.

“I can be a little late can’t I? My marriage comes first.”

“Understood,” said Henry meekly.

The doorman at Number
10
nodded to Anna before setting her loose to face the huge press pack waiting outside. The cameras started flashing just as soon as the door opened and Anna had to momentarily shield her eyes before stepping out. She felt her legs shaking and worried that her movement would seem awkward, such was her tension. She remembered the early years of her career when she would suffer terrible stage fright and would literally have to be forced out in front of the audience. Today, she would have to force herself out. She took a deep breath and walked forwards towards the sea of cameras and reporters all hovering ready behind the barrier on the other side of the street.

She could hear them calling her name over and over.

“Anna, Anna. Give us a smile. Look this way, Anna. That’s it love,” the photographers were saying. The reporters, on the other hand, always stuck to the more formal “Ms Lloyd”. “When was the last time you spoke to your husband?” a female voice shouted. “What did the Prime Minster say to you, Ms Lloyd?” a male reporter cut in.

Anna knew she had two choices: stay and talk to them or smile and walk away quickly. She thought the latter would be the most sensible option, but there was something about the cameras flashing and the way they were all beckoning her that she just couldn’t resist. She moved closer to the pack and waited as the reporters jostled to get right in front of her.

“I spoke only briefly with the Prime Minister,” Anna began. “This was not a political visit, but rather a chance to celebrate and acknowledge women who have displayed enormous courage in their lives…”

“Have you spoken to your husband?” another reporter interjected.

“I’ve not spoken to my husband since he made the announcement that we were to separate.”

“Are you going to divorce?” a male voice rang out.

“I’m just taking one day at a time right now, thanks. I’ve only just started to get back on my feet after everything that’s gone on and I’m obviously very concerned about the effect all this is having on my sister and her family, since some of the recent reports have involved her.”

“Will you be voting Alliance on May
6
th now?” a young male reporter cheekily asked.

“No, I’ll be voting
SDP
as I always have.” Anna smiled. “I may not like my husband very much right now, but I do still believe he’s the right man to lead this country.”

Suddenly there was a rush of questions that all merged into one loud roar and Anna decided it was time to move. She could see her driver waiting for her a little further up the street so she thanked the reporters then turned around swiftly. They were still calling for her even as she closed the door of the car and when she turned to see what the thump was to her right, she realised the photographers were chasing the vehicle down the street, smashing their lenses against the window to catch whatever shot they could. Anna knew she should be finding this experience deeply, deeply unsettling. But instead, she felt totally numb; the camera flashes providing a comforting break from reality. She wondered if that was why she had craved fame so much all these years: because the world of celebrity had seemed to provide a perfect refuge from the past.

Except now she could see that shelter was built on sand and its walls made of paper.

Once they had cleared Downing Street and were making their way back towards the hotel, Anna checked her mobile phone. She had two missed calls: one from Libby and one from Richard. Anna quickly dialled the person she most needed to talk to.

It took several rings before Libby finally answered.

“Hi Anna,” she said in a tone that was neither warm nor cold.

“Libby, I’m so sorry. I’ve felt so awful these last few days. I really, really hope I haven’t ruined everything for you. I hadn’t planned on telling that reporter about what we did, but once I started talking I just couldn’t stop myself. It just had to come out.”