There's a new broom at the Department of Social Affairs and Citizenship. Gone is former Minister, Nicola Murray, her party and her aggressive bullying spin-doctor, Martin Tucker. To be replaced by the world-weary, middle-aged, cynic, Peter Mannion and his coalition Junior Minister, a young and enthusiastic, Fergus Williams.
Despite being in government both Mannion and Williams are somewhat side-tracked by the news of a homeless former nurse with mental health issues is living in a tent after being evicted from his NHS key-worker home - a home that was sold off by Mannion's government, along with hundreds of others in order to pay off PFI debts.
Stuart Pearson is back as their spin-doctor trying to push a new policy to the media called "App-ortnuity for the Network Nation", which is basically an IT initiative to attract young people to write computer apps with government support.
Fergus is very keen to be at the forefront of the media campaign primarily because he is fairly familiar with how it works. Whereas Mannion is out of his depth and has little idea what it is he is being asked to announce. Inevitably, Pearson asks Mannion to lead the campaign rather than Williams.
A new season, a new government and new faces at DoSAC. In this episode we don't get to see Tucker, or former DoSAC minister Nicola Murray for that matter. Instead we welcome Fergus, Emma Messenger, Adam Kenyon and Pearson - all of whom have appeared in previous episodes of the show.
To be honest it made a nice change not having Tucker bully, abuse and coerce his staff. His opposite number, Pearson, rarely swears but talks in business-speak and can be very passive/aggressive if he doesn't get his way.
Mannion, is a delight as the cynical old politician who detests nearly everyone and every new initiative in his department, but in particular he out-of-touch Pearson and and the youthful Williams.
There are not many laugh-out loud moments as the humour is rather dry, subtle and ironic. But despite this the episode is quite fun, not least for seeing some new faces who are just as bitter and twisted as Tucker and his former Departmental colleagues.
Despite being in government both Mannion and Williams are somewhat side-tracked by the news of a homeless former nurse with mental health issues is living in a tent after being evicted from his NHS key-worker home - a home that was sold off by Mannion's government, along with hundreds of others in order to pay off PFI debts.
Stuart Pearson is back as their spin-doctor trying to push a new policy to the media called "App-ortnuity for the Network Nation", which is basically an IT initiative to attract young people to write computer apps with government support.
Fergus is very keen to be at the forefront of the media campaign primarily because he is fairly familiar with how it works. Whereas Mannion is out of his depth and has little idea what it is he is being asked to announce. Inevitably, Pearson asks Mannion to lead the campaign rather than Williams.
A new season, a new government and new faces at DoSAC. In this episode we don't get to see Tucker, or former DoSAC minister Nicola Murray for that matter. Instead we welcome Fergus, Emma Messenger, Adam Kenyon and Pearson - all of whom have appeared in previous episodes of the show.
To be honest it made a nice change not having Tucker bully, abuse and coerce his staff. His opposite number, Pearson, rarely swears but talks in business-speak and can be very passive/aggressive if he doesn't get his way.
Mannion, is a delight as the cynical old politician who detests nearly everyone and every new initiative in his department, but in particular he out-of-touch Pearson and and the youthful Williams.
There are not many laugh-out loud moments as the humour is rather dry, subtle and ironic. But despite this the episode is quite fun, not least for seeing some new faces who are just as bitter and twisted as Tucker and his former Departmental colleagues.
