The Darling Option

Last October I suggested that if Labour wanted to find a caretaker leader they could do much worse than appoint Alistair Darling to the job. Granted, there were a couple of difficulties with this notion: Darling is Scottish and there is no party of Darling or interest that will swing behind him. Well he can’t do much about the former, but the latter can be turned to his advantage (if he decides he wants the job) since, evidently, his elevation doesn’t dash anyone else’s hopes or interest. As I put it in October:

Now, sure, Darling isn’t a perfect candidate. But if such existed we wouldn’t be having this discussion. But he has a certain calmness about him that might, just might, be what Labour need. Because, assuming Cameron becomes Prime Minister, the public will not, I think, be interested in hearing very much from Labour for quite some time. It will not be a moment for the new Labour leader to make a name for himself.