Bagehot: The loneliness of Alistair Darling

摘要

There is nothing in Alistair Darling's demeanour to suggest impending doom. Stepping into a sundrenched auditorium in Greenock, on the Firth of Clyde, the man charged with keeping Britain together has an air of brisk positivity. It could not be called optimism. The former Labour chancellor of the exchequer retains the manner of the Edinburgh advocate he once was: clear about what he thinks, insistent to a degree, yet a little world-worn and, in the end, phlegmatic. It was evident in the undemonstrative way he saved the financial system after rbs, formerly the world's biggest bank, went bust. It is evident now, with opinion polls suggesting the separatist "Yes Scotland" campaign is surging a fortnight before the country votes on independence.