He walked back to the table, placing both hands on its surface, and his gaze swept over each member of the Cabinet:
"Listen. We are now fighting on two fronts, no, three. Scotland is a festering wound, bleeding and festering. Overseas territories and former colonies are latent viruses, activated by Scotland's high fever. Meanwhile, Europe is the cold onlooker, deciding whether to abandon treatment."
"We need to stop the bleeding. Immediately, at once." He pointed to Graham, "Restart secret contacts with the Scottish side; the level can be raised, and conditions can be relaxed. Tell them we are willing to discuss the maximum scheme of 'devolution', and even the 'future relationship framework', but there must be an immediate ceasefire and release of all captives. This is the bottom line."
"Prime Minister, this is close to surrender..." someone softly opposed.
