Member

There is someone else I would like to mention, a giant of our politics, someone who touched the lives of millions, and whom I was privileged to serve as an adviser at the Treasury: Alistair Darling. If I can summon up just a small portion of his decency, his resolution in crisis, his clarity in chaos and his composure when so many were losing their heads, not to mention his Sahara-dry wit, I will be doing very well indeed. He embodied our mantra of country first, party second, and we miss him. I was also lucky to work with Charles Clarke when he was Home Secretary in the aftermath of the terrible 7/7 attacks in our capital. He showed what strength and determination looks like on those darkest of days.