When both the Government of the United Kingdom and the Federal Government of the United States are suggesting military intervention in the Middle East, Simon Foster (Tom Hollander), the Minister for Department for International Development, unintentionally states that a war in the Middle East is "unforeseeable" during a radio interview on BBC Radio 4's Today (BBC Radio 4) programme. The Prime Minister's Spin (public relations), Malcolm Tucker (Peter Capaldi), castigates Simon and tells him to toe the line. Toby Wright (Chris Addison), Simon's new aide, with the help of his girlfriend Suzy (Olivia Poulet), manages to get Simon into the UK Foreign Office meeting that day.