Jacqueline James

An Ignoble End Jacqueline James

It's a miserable rainy day in late 1995. The discovery of a malignant tumour in her right breast is the beginning of a ten year roller-coaster ride of despair, bravery, determination. Back in her biology teaching job after successful mastectomy and chemotherapy, all was well with the world and she was more than happy. Then, out of the blue, a new opportunity presented itself by way of a local election candidate calling to canvass her political leanings. She was so impressed she joined the local party and became more involved in politics at a local level to begin with. She took to it like a duck to water, and did very well as a ward councillor and began to think about a career in mainstream politics. With her grit and determination, she duly won the Parliamentary seat for her own constituency. The early days of her Parliamentary career were something of a shock. The one thing she and her husband had not properly considered was the fact that they were apart for four days a week, but a problem that was easily overcome when she employed him as her Parliamentary researcher. With her dream job, living the high life in London, what could be better. Till one day, the bravery and determination of yesteryear were to desert her in the wake of a second malignant tumour in her spine. As it was deemed inoperable and as a consequence life ending. All that is left is despair and determination to wrest the best possible deal out of this agonizing situation not for herself but her husband and twin sons. To resign her seat and get nothing would be a bitter blow. The trick is to be a member of parliament when she dies. The second half of the story is a political roller-coaster ride of lies, fraud, and deception culminating in perjury of the worst kind.