S1 • E1
Under pressure Labour Minister Jo Porter takes a verbal beating in the Commons from Tory counterpart James Northcote as she announces a new policy on youth crime. How has he anticipated Jo's statement with such killer ripostes? And where has he got all those figures? The answer can be found back in Jo's parliamentary office, where her loyal researcher Danny Foster watches the debacle unfold in total despair. He left the report in a pub toilet. Meanwhile, Tory duo Ashika Chandiramani and Matt Baker cannot hide their glee at Jo's humiliation - Matt stole the report from the pub. But Ashika has other things on her mind, not least how to manage her affair with her married boss, James Northcote, who, distracted by in-fighting with his old-school Tory boss, George Morgan, seems to be getting cold feet. Across Westminster, Danny's older brother, Scott, has been charged with making new Tory contacts to secure a big new contract for his lobby firm. Thanks to his manipulative boss, he is competing for the prospective account with Jake, his hedonistic friend and flatmate. Scott blags a lunch with James, thanks to one of his on-off sexual partners, Sophie Montgomery, a Tory journalist. But a scurrilous rumour forces the MP to miss lunch and he sends Ashika in his place. When Scott wins the account Jake gets drunk, confronts him, stumbles into the road and is hit by a car and killed.
S1 • E2
Scott's feeling down after Jake's death and Danny tries to distract him. There's uproar in Jo's constituency over the publication of a controversial book. The attraction between Scott and Ashika is obvious. On-off sexual partner, Sophie however, is jealous of their budding relationship and tells Ashika that Scott is merely taking advantage of her Tory contacts. James has had enough of old-school Tory, George Morgan publicly denouncing him and the new Tory party and dispatches Ashika and Matt to dig the dirt on him. It seems that George's upbringing is less gritty than he makes out - perfect press fodder. George receives a public dressing down much to James' satisfaction. George is fairly certain where to point the finger and decides that revenge really is a dish best served cold.
S1 • E3
Ashika is approached to put herself forward as a candidate for the upcoming constituency Longton South by election. Labour researcher Danny attempts to impress his preoccupied mother over dinner in Portcullis House. However, his attempts go unnoticed when it transpires his mum has a big announcement of her own, much to Danny's horror. Scott is teamed up with sexy trainee Vienna Lurie. Their task is to help draw attention to the cruel treatment of bears in China, who are being illegally held in captivity for their bile. This has never been a cause close to Scott's heart, yet to everyone surprise, including Scott's; he throws himself into the project - taking a staged protest a step too far...
S1 • E4
Attempting to prove that he's not in love with his colleague Kirsty, Labour Researcher Danny arranges an internet date. Initially the date seems to go well; however, it is fairly obvious that Danny doesn't take after his older brother, Scott, when it comes to charming the fairer of the sexes. Being a busy labour MP, Jo asks loyal Researcher Danny and intern Kirsty to organise an intimate birthday dinner for her husband and close friends. Kirsty has bigger ideas, planning to use the occasion to network with her boss's useful connections. Fuelled by his continuing infatuation with his beautiful workmate, Danny allows Kirsty to persuade him that what Jo really wants is a big surprise party. Jo's husband, Iain, arrives at the restaurant expecting the relaxed birthday dinner she promised. When he finds his busy and hectic wife networking as usual, he leaves the party before she can explain. Danny is left to pick up the pieces by comforting a drunken and tearful Jo, as Kirsty seeks out his older and much more sophisticated brother Scott. Lobbyist Scott is handed both a new challenge and client when he is asked to help prevent wealthy Russian, Peter Zaslavsky, from being extradited. Scott soon finds that he has bitten off more than he can chew and resorts to desperate measures in order to get himself out of trouble with his powerful and shady client.
S1 • E5
The murder of a white prisoner by his Asian inmate has created a media frenzy and the press are demanding a statement from their local MP, Labour minister Jo Porter who is nowhere to be seen. When she finally arrives at work, hungover, she lets slip to Danny that Scott left last night's party with Kirsty. Danny is left wondering what happened between the two of them. Scott and Kirsty decide to lie about it. Sexy journalist Sophie convinces Labour supporting Scott to escort her to the Conservative Winter Ball. His boss, Stephen Templeton encourages him to go - hoping to win new Tory contacts. When Scott bumps into Ashika at the party, their attraction is reignited and it looks like a romance may be back on the cards. Later, feeling disillusioned, Scott vandalises his office and hands in his resignation. Ashika meets James' wife and father-in-law at the Ball, he makes it clear to Ashika that he's aware of her affair with James. Long term Conservative MP, George, shares a taxi home from the ball with Ashika, but leaves his blackberry behind. Ashika soon realises the contents could ruin George's career so she seizes the opportunity which forces George to resign. This makes her boss and lover James very happy but once again Ashika is left in doubt over her future with him.
S1 • E6
Stephen tells Scott that he's been headhunted to help the flagging Labour by-election campaign. Scott's flattered and heads up to Sedley to assess the candidate.
S1 • E7
Danny urges Jo to seek counselling for her escalating drink problem. Ashika uses a picture of Scott's dad to promote herself and boost her campaign. Danny suggests Kirsty for a new research job for an MP. Unbeknown to Kirsty the job is not available to her but she will stop at nothing to climb the political ladder, even if it means sleeping her way to the top.
S1 • E8
Jo Porter has to perform well in the opposition debate otherwise her career is over. Danny is devastated when Kirsty admits to sleeping with a potential employer for a research post. As the Sedley by-election heats up, so does the relationship between Ashika and Scott. However, when Scott receives a CD containing photos of Ashika and James Northcote he is torn.
Scott Foster
Ashika Chandirimani
Kirsty MacKenzie
Danny Foster
James Northcote
Sophie Montgomery
Matt Baker
Jo Porter
George Morgan
Stephen Templeton