“Mum said you are thinking of leaving Lancaster,” said Olivia during one of her infrequent visits home.
“Yes, we can manage on what I get from Leeds and, to be honest, the commute is too much for me. I’ve already handed in my resignation. I’m going to use the spare time to try to get all the regional leaders into a room together to hammer out an accord.”
“Is this because the First Minister is planning to declare independence?”
“He’s calling himself the President of the North now. I’m worried if they go ahead with their plans, it might end up in civil war. A similar thing nearly happened in Scotland when I’d just come out of the Army.”
“But look at Scotland now. Hardly a civil war.”
“Yes, but that was just Scotland. A complete breakup of the union would leave no power in Westminster an
