Serving ministers are advised never to bring lawsuits.
If you're in office, you're supposed to put up with anything.
That's the deal.
But I knew very well that lies were being told about me
not because of anything I'd done, but because of who I am.
I'm proud to be one of the few politicians
who actually comes from the same background
as the majority of people I represent,
and I never forget that.
So I fought. And I won.
To quote the national poet,
"Thrice is he arm'd that hath his quarrel just."
Thank you.
One of the country's most popular politicians
brought off the gamble of his life this afternoon,
when a jury found for the Transport Minister, Peter Laurence,
against a newspaper, which claimed
he had exploited his position in government for financial gain.
But the case fell apart when key witness for the defence,
journalist Charmian Pepper,
- surprised the court by changing her story. - You're welcome.
Say thank you to your counsel.
- I never doubted it for a moment. - I'm glad you're happy.
It's open and shut, but thanks all the same.
Well, that's one way to thank you.
What's he saying? Any fool could have got me off?
I don't care. They're always the best cases.
The ones you win?
No, the ones you win when you suspect your client is guilty as hell.
Still a bloody taxi. We're going to the ministry, for God's sake.
Maybe, but you're not on government business. Not formally.
That's so typical of her.
- You know the Prime Minister. - Yeah, I do. Petty.
- Charmian? - Charmian, why did you change your story?
Ms Pepper, why did you change your story?
Any comment, Charmian?
Anything I say will only get me in worse trouble.
I'm saying nothing. Thank you very much.
Let's get back to Chambers.
- Sorry. - Oh, sorry. My fault. Sorry.
Everyone knows these have not been easy years.
My three years in office have coincided
with a period of extreme turbulence in Western economies.
But what's pleased me
is since we inaugurated this access scheme at Number Ten,
how British business and finance has really stepped up
to help the Conservative cause.
And we're very grateful.
We are always here to listen to your legitimate concerns
and to help enterprise to thrive.
That's our job. Thank you.
You're on good form, Dawn.
Mind you, we need to be on good form every day.
I don't remember begging being part of my job description.
Let me. I'm Chair of the party.
I ought to be swaying continents.
All I ever do is ask for money.
Ah! You and me both.
Prime Minister.
- Prime Minister. - Julia!
- How much? - This afternoon, 200,000.
Well, I'm due ￡200,000 worth of boredom
so that's a fair exchange.
Depends if you want to win the next election.
The briefing you asked for on Peter Laurence. MI5 put it together.
In an hour?
It was quick because it already existed.
What? They had their eye on him?
They'd be derelict if they didn't.
Ah, yes. Of course.
- Croydon. - You can't take it away from him.
All that stuff about the tough background is true. He's authentic.
Retail, retail, selling furniture,
property...
Oh! Then politics.
And with all those think tanks in between.
British American Development Forum, is that a charity?
It was meant to be, but the charity commissioners didn't agree.
And its purpose, aside from dodging tax?
Transatlantic understanding.
- Well, if that isn't fishy...! - What do you want me to do?
Oh, it's a simple test. I've done it before.
What you do is you open a copy of Who's Who.
You look up Peter's official entry, then you compare it to this.
Whatever he's left out, that's what we're looking for.
- He'll have left it out for a reason? - Oh, certainly.
Whatever it is, he'll want it to be forgotten.
And I'm happy to say Peter Laurence is with us.
After 15 rounds in the High Court, back in his weekly spot,
telling the truth and taking your calls.
Thank you very much, Mick. Good to be here.
No. I'm a member of the government and this is government policy.
No, but you... You have to forget about Brexit.
It's in the past.
It was a national trauma, as you call it, and...
But it's a trauma we came through. It's over.
I'm not interested in the old arguments.
The world is changing so fast,
and the exciting thing is keeping up.
Brown sauce.
No, no, that's a good point.
I am a relaxed Conservative who admires progress.
I admire anybody who finds a cause
that they genuinely believe in,
and I'm at peace with all kinds of causes.
It could have been Nelson Mandela or the suffragettes,
I don't have to agree with every word of it.
I admire anybody who just stands strong
and...and free and doesn't give over
their life to apology and guilt.
To me, conservatism is about loving the idea of the future.
Don't you sound like a lovely man!
Yes, you pick a system to suit the team.
If I say one more word about Manchester United...
Exactly. I rose through the system and I want everyone else
to have that chance, too.
They got you this time, didn't they, Peter?
- They called, that newspaper. - Right.
They nearly had you!
Well, all I can say to that,
William of Walthamstow, is in your dreams!
He doesn't look worried to me, Billy. He looks radiant!
Ok!
You need to listen to this.
On your personal. It came through yesterday.
I didn't want to bother you till after we got the verdict.
Who is it?
- It's somebody that says she's your daughter. - Which one?