Number 10 show may yet be prophet of political future

There is a drama series hidden away in the ‘afternoon play’ slot on BBC Radio 4 that may hold the warnings signs and possibly answers for the mid-term future of British politics.

Number 10, written by Jonathan Myersen and staring Antony Sher as Adam, the Prime Minister – the series portrays life inside Downing Street as the Government attempts to govern the country.

It has come under criticism in the past for showing the Labour Government in an overly friendly light (even though it is technically a fictional government).

In the first couple of series it showed a Government with a working if strong majority in the House of Commons that gave them more freedom to do more of what they want.

But the new series, currently airing Friday’s at 14:15 on BBC Radio 4 started after a General Election that resulted in no party with an overall majority or at least no obvious claim to form a Government.

Without giving anything away a lot of deal making, wrangling, name calling, bargaining and diplomacy between the Palace and the parties takes place before Labour the LibDems eventually negotiate a coalition and form a Government.

Given the news today of a poll for the Independent Newspaper showing an increasing likelihood of a hung parliament at the next election – this could be a case of Life following Art.

Here is a video of the most recent edition of Number 10 that is set in a single room involving high and tense diplomacy between the UK PM and the Ambassador of an African island in the Swedish Embassy in London.

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