Francis Urquhart is still holding onto power with a grip of iron. Though he has almost overtaken Margaret Thatcher (who has just died) as Britain's longest-serving 20th-century Prime Minister, he knows he cannot remain leader for ever. He is now 65 years old and is thinking about retirement. But before he goes, he is determined to leave his mark on the world. His plans are looking good because he is in the middle of brokering an historic peace settlement between Greek and Turkish Cyprus. His wife, Elizabeth, wants to make provision for their own future and introduces him to Nures, a Turkish Cypriot businessman who reveals the existence of an oil seam in the disputed sea boundary line between the two countries. Nures suggests that Urquhart might be able to influence the British judge who will be chairing the international arbitration panel. If the oil were to fall into the area apportioned to the Turkish Cypriots, Urquhart could expect a handsome consultancy fee.This could be used to set up an Urquhart Trust as their own private pension plan. Meanwhile, a new generation of Tories are jockeying for power at home.Tom Makepeace, the Foreign Secretary, is angry with Urquhart for taking all the credit for the Cyprus peace plan. His mistress, backbench MP Claire Carlsen, urges him to set himself up against Urquhart. Also keen on winning power is the ultra right wing Home Secretary John Rayner. Urquhart is involved in an unexpected motorway crash and is taken to hospital.While recovering from a head wound; the past he thought dead and buried in Cyprus emerges to haunt him. Elizabeth, meanwhile, persuades Urquhart in his rattled state that Nures is offering a sensible proposition. He fires Barry Crumb, his ineffectual Parliamentary Private Secretary. Claire Carlsen presents herself to Urquhart as Crumb's replacement. Intrigued, Urquhart assures her he will bear her in mind.

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