Alastair Darling RIP

[BillyStubbsTears]

Feels like someone from a different world. A politician who was calm, honest, competent and seemingly liked and respected by everyone who knew him.

Those who insist that all politicians are shameless chancers filling their pockets, consider what would have happened if he'd not dealt with the banking crisis in 2008. Imagine being pulled out of a meeting to take a call from the head of the  biggest bank in the world, telling you that if you don't sort out a rescue deal from scratch, now, the cash machines will have nothing in them in 2-3 hours. That would have led to a panic from beyond your worst nightmares.

It's the kind of stress you can barely imagine. Time perhaps to reflect on how important that sort of quiet competence is.

[Pancho Regan]

A truly honourable man and an exemplary politician.
How I wish we had the likes of him in Parliament now.

RIP.