Even by Downing Street standards, the hours that followed the call from America were frantic.
The Prime Minister and his Cabinet Secretary had immediately decided that they should pass on the news to all those who had attended Monday’s special meetings, but at the same time had concluded that the circle needed to be drawn even wider than that.
“It’s no use Cabinet Ministers knowing the score,” said Sir Robin Algar, “if their outer offices don’t also know what’s going on. That’s where things are going to be made to happen.”
“You’re right,” agreed Tony Weaver. “And it’s no use the Chief of Defence Staff knowing if nobody else does in the military - he’s not going to mount all these little operations on his own.”
“I have to say that I think we can leave it to those in uniform to decide who else they need to brief to get the job done, but I worry about the politicians and civil servants, if I may say so,” declared Algar. “There is a natural tendency to gossip in the corridors, which we shall have to kerb.”
“At the moment, it’s the military and the police who are going to be busy, so perhaps the problem isn't so bad as we fear,” said the PM.
“On the other hand,” countered Sir Robin, “MI5 must be briefed, and they report to the Home Office, as does Scotland Yard and therefore the anti-terrorist squad and special branch. MI6 is a Foreign Office responsibility, and since the CIA lifted its ban on assassinations following 9/11, the people at Vauxhall Cross have developed a highly secret military wing that they can task directly, mainly staffed by members of the SAS and other special forces. That’s MOD again. The Northern Ireland Office will have a responsibility for the NI Police Service who must get involved because of its own anti-terrorist branch and special branch, and the Prison Service, another Home Office responsibility, will have to agree to us using the man who is doing time for fraud. I’m very much afraid, Prime Minister, that we can’t side-line Ministers and their officials as much as we would like.”
Tony Weaver sighed, and stared thoughtfully out of the window, across the rose garden.
“I will pass the word to my Cabinet colleagues,” he said eventually. “I will remind them of the huge political risks we are about to take, and, with that in mind, leave it to them to tell those officials who really have to know, taking guidance from their Permanent Secretaries as to trustworthiness, security clearances, and so on. I’m quite sure all the Permanent Secretaries will immediately contact you, Robin, so you can also take the opportunity to emphasise the sensitivity of it all.”
Algar nodded.
“I will also,” continued the Prime Minister, “contact the CDS and Police Chiefs, as they attended the meeting here, and give them the same instructions about who they brief. Only those who need to know in order to get the job done must be told - none other. But I will also personally brief the Heads of MI5 and MI6 to ensure they not only work closely together, but also with the police and military. I think you could deal direct with the Prison Service when you need to, perhaps after you’ve put Paul Bridges in the picture and spoken again with your man at the Bank of England.”
“I can't think of anyone else we ourselves need to tell,” agreed Algar. “I’m quite sure things will start to happen fairly quickly on the military side, especially when your man Clayton gets the all clear from his General.”
“We can get hold of all these people on a secure line, too, I think,” said Weaver. “But I might just have Andrew Groves in and tell him what’s going on. What do you think? He can at least be on the lookout for leaks, and take extra care to monitor the media for news of relevant activity across the water.”
“Yes, that would be sensible,” agreed Sir Robin. “Perhaps I could sit in on that. After prayers tomorrow?”
“Agreed,” said the Prime Minister. “I think you and I should each brief our private offices now, and then get cracking on the phone before people start drifting home. In fact, our people could pass word to those at the bottom of the list not to go home until we’ve been on to them.”